FULTON, Mo. - Coming off undoubtedly the best season in program history, in which it shut out every opponent en route to winning the American Midwest Conference regular season title, William Woods University men's soccer seeks to remain competitive and has lofty goals in a new, more challenging conference, the Heart of America Athletic Conference.

Going into their first season in the Heart, the Owls return six all-conference honorees, spanning all areas of the pitch, as they get their first crack at a conference with five teams that played in last year's NAIA National Championship. Two of those teams were quarterfinalists, and one of them, William Penn University, was the runner-up.

William Woods Director of Soccer Tommy Nienhaus explained what his goals are for the Owls as they start a new chapter.

"The simplest one is knowing how the conference operates," Nienhaus said. "Good amount of teams qualifying for nationals. I think top four, just being in the first year, and top four is realistic. I think it's attainable. I think it's a good starting point. This time next year, I might give you a more specific answer, but the first time through the conference, there's always a learning curve. So, I think the top four is realistic."

Not only will Nienhaus be tasked with guiding WWU in a new conference, he's also the first individual to lead both Owls soccer teams in 18 years and the fifth coach to do so. With that, Nienhaus explained how preparation for the upcoming campaign has gone.

"It was pretty much just getting the new guys to speed," Nienhaus shared. "Overall, though, there's going to be in the early stages of the season, and the nonconference is going to be a couple of days where you're gonna have to lean on the staff because the women are away and the men have practice, and vice versa. So, it'll just be balancing that out. Once we get into the conference, though, things will settle down with the consistencies, because both teams have the same schedule, and then it gets crazy again in the postseason. Schedule is probably not going to line up."

While Woods returns depth in nearly every positional group, one in particular, midfield, will be a strength shown on the field this year.

"Our strength is probably in the middle, all those key players from last year with Charlie, Luis and Alejo," Nienhaus mentioned. "Obviously, somebody's got big shoes to fill with Omar Murillo, but I do like the group, not just Omar, but Pedro Salmon moved on, and Sam Gonzalez graduated. The good news is that we have players that were already in place, ready to step up. Matt returns in goal, so there's a lot of familiarity there. I think so far in the preseason games, the group has looked fairly strong. We'll use practices to improve in those areas as well."

The Owls bring back three first-team All-AMC representatives, including goalkeeper Matthew Dworak, who topped the team in shutouts (five) and saves (42) during WWU's dominant defensive 2024.

"Performance-wise, same - elevated," Nienhaus stated about Dworak's expectations this year. "I think I'm going to ask him to be a little bit more of a leader, just because he is going into his final year. Matt has his own personal goals, and he's a committed guy to get there. Overall, pretty excited for what he's going to do."

A pivotal cog in Woods' midfield machine is Luis Pinto, a first-team All-AMC selection that was asked to do a lot in a role where stats don't necessarily highlight his value.

"It's always tough, because the position he plays isn't really a statistically driven position, but if you watch us play, how often he's on the ball, how he disrupts play from a defensive standpoint, his ability to read the game," Nienhaus explained. "There's a reason why he was an all-conference selection. He's coming off a great summer playing at the USL level, and I really expect his game to continue to grow. He's matching that with more leadership qualities. Yeah, overall, he's put it this way, he's the soul of that midfield."

In the attack, the Owls bring back first-team All-AMC pick Miles Andrews, who had a team-high 73 shots and 37 shots on goal in 2024.

"It starts with Miles as a key piece," Nienhaus said of William Woods' forward group. "He's pretty identifiable from the opponent's standpoint, about just how dangerous he is as an attacking player."

St. Louis native Josh Seyer, second-team All-AMC last season, will be the general of WWU's mostly new-look back line this year.

"He's the anchor," Nienhaus stated. "That's the simplest way to put it. It's very much similar to what Omar was last year. But Josh is the lone returning guy from the back line. We have a couple of juniors who are going to step into some of those spots, and then Fabio Juricko probably steps in on that right side. So far, that group has looked solid in the preseason. Josh is also going to be counted on to lead in different ways."

Given the No. 10 this year (worn by Class of 2025 graduate Nico Martinez Labra last year), a number typically given to a team's most skillful midfield playmaker, Charlie Williams is another second-team All-AMC player that William Woods retains on its 2025 roster.

"Charlie brings a dynamic presence," Nienhaus said. "He had a fantastic summer with USL and is playing at a really high level. I fully expect that to continue. I could see him chipping in a few more goals than he had the previous year. He's got a non-stop engine. Assuming he can continue to grow and mature in other ways, then I see his game going to another level. You look at a guy like Charlie, and then you combine them with a guy like Luis, and those two are pretty, pretty fun to watch, because they have a very keen understanding, which makes us even more dangerous."

While Williams is the Owl donning Lionel Messi's number, forward David Fink, second-team All-AMC in 2024, wears Cristiano Ronaldo's No. 7. Last season, Fink played a Ronaldo-like role for WWU and led the Owls in goals (nine) and points (22).

"Veteran presence," Nienhaus said. "Just like with Ben and Miles, they've been here a while. David's a four-year guy like Luis, like Matt. David is obviously a superb finisher. I think that what we need out of David is consistency. He's obviously consistent, but can he be consistent at a high level? And obviously, we're going to need that going into a much more challenging conference. Some days last year, David would score a goal or two and be our best attacking player, and then some days he would go missing. But we can't really afford that this year. We need him to be there and present every single game for us to have the success we want to have."

In addition to six all-conference Owls that fill up the pitch, there are some other William Woods players, whether it be familiar faces or newcomers, Nienhaus believes will do well in 2025.

"Mathias Cobb is one; he's a transfer from Tennessee Wesleyan," Nienhaus mentioned. "He has a good, solid background, but from an attacking standpoint, he brings something that our attacking group does not have, which we're going to need come the Heart of America, and he's adjusted pretty well to the team so far.

"A few others, just depending on your point of view, Kyle Kaemmerer and Simone Morona are two defenders who played sparingly last year, but they were stuck behind Omar and Pedro and some of those guys. Now, those guys are here. It's an opportunity for them to solidify things. Simone gives us a different presence. Something very similar to Omar, who scored a couple of goals off set pieces. Simone could be that guy for us this year, because he's 6'5" and is very dominant in the air. 

"Outside of that, Grant Barron, just like Mathias, is a Tennessee Wesleyan transfer who's going to help that attacking presence. Then, there's a couple of freshmen to keep your eye out for: Sem Schoemakers (Venlo, Netherlands) and Marlon Swaby (Toronto, Canada). A couple of new guys that have done really well in the short time that they've been here. Then, there's a DII transfer, Danny Quickenden (Sul Ross State), that gives us a lot of flexibility. Right now, he's working through some eligibility stuff.

"Overall, very deep group, and I think we're going to surprise people in just how deep the group is because even though we've lost a lot of quality with Pedro and Omar, the difference between them and the guys that are stepping up, you're going to find out that it's not too big of a transition to the Heart."

Helping instill Nienhaus' teachings into this year's WWU squad are returning assistant coach Ivan Lloay and new graduate assistant Lucas Dehaan, who knows the Heart of America firsthand as a former player at Baker University. Recently hired Owls women's soccer assistant William Fancoletti will also instruct the men's team.

"Ivan is going to continue his work with the men's team, and he's going to transition into a different role within the team," Nienhaus said. "William is coaching the men's goalkeepers. That is a role that Ivan had last year. Ivan is transitioning to more of working with the field players, so to speak, because there may be times when I'm not there. So, it's more of a leadership change for Ivan, and then Lucas steps in and helps where he can. We're trying to get them more comfortable here."

Turning the page to the Owls' schedule, the most highly anticipated match is their contest against an American Midwest Conference foe that joined them in making the switch to the Heart, Missouri Baptist University. William Woods hosts the Spartans in a midweek meeting at 7:30 p.m. Sep. 17 at North Campus Athletic Complex.

"It's always fun when Mo Bap comes with you," Nienhaus stated. "You know that rivalry can still continue. That game is always going to be fun. The better way to put it, though, is going to be the first four games in the conference. Those first four games, you're going to set the tone in terms of when we're at four games, it's roughly 25% of the conference. Four games in, you're going to know where things are, where things stand. Are we on the right track to finish where we want to finish with our goals and things like that? Making sure we at least qualify for postseason, stuff like that. Then obviously, there's the Mo Bap game that transcends conference play. It's just nobody wants to lose to a rival. Those are probably the best way to put it."

Before getting into the new and fun challenge that is Heart of America Conference play, William Woods opens its season against NCAA Division II Southwest Baptist University at 5 p.m. Friday at SBU Soccer Field in Bolivar, Missouri.