GREAT FALLS, Mont. – Perhaps the toughest weekend of the entire season for Argo soccer will be its first weekend of the season. UP travels to Aberdeen, South Dakota to take on (8) Mid-America Nazarene on Saturday, September 2 followed by (RV) McPherson College on Monday, September 4. It will be the only time all year that the Argos will face two teams either ranked or receiving votes in back-to-back games.
 
UP enters the season with a lot of talent and a lot of questions. The team has graduated its leading scorer, three members of its starting back four, and one of its two All-Conference field players. On the other hand, the Argos return its overall points leader Adrian Gomez, All-Conference goalkeeper Marc Girones, and five players who scored multiple times in 2016.
 
Along with that returning talent, star center back Rasmus Madsen returns after missing most of 2016 due to injury, and Head Coach Josephy Yeisley brought in a massive and loaded 12-player 2017 Recruiting Class.
 
In the Argo's two scrimmages, a handful of those newcomers looked poised to make an instant impact and that was before two of the most promising prospects showed up to campus.
 
The back four will have returning starter Ole Cloppenburg and Madsen, though freshman Braden Bloom is a big x-factor. Bloom has immense potential but was signed extremely late and therefore missed most of the preseason camp. On the wings, sophomore Dylan Bird will step into one of the two open outside back spots while junior transfers Seth Phillips and Yacir Allen along with possibly Bloom are all still in the mix to fill the final starting defensive spot.
 
UP's midfield is the most experienced and deepest position group with 2016 Second Team All-Cascade Conference player Adrian Gomez reprising his role as the primary playmaker. Defensive midfielder Alex Williams's maturity beyond his years had him named a Vice Captain and also has him solidly in the starting lineup.
 
The third starter at midfield is still up for grabs, though freshman Sebastian Ongkowijawa looked particularly poised with the ball in the team's two scrimmages. Also in the mix are junior Luis Macias who looked explosive in spurts in the scrimmages, freshman Kevin Vasquez-Hernandez, and freshman Milan Cunin is similar to Bloom in that he could be one of the stars of the class but hasn't had much time yet with the team.
 
A wealth of experience returns for the Argos to fill the three forward spots. Senior captain Christoffer Bisbo, senior Christopher Chavez, and sophomore George Holloway were all starters last season and combined for 11 goals and 9 assists. Redshirt-sophomore Cole Meyers brings unmatched speed and athleticism off the bench and Cunin could jump into the mix as well.
 
In the net, the Argos have two-year starter Marc Girones who was Second Team All-Conference in 2016 and Honorable Mention All-Conference in 2015. He has senior Tom Chesterman and freshmen Trevor Chester and Andrew Davey behind him.
 
UP's season opener will be against (8) Mid-America University who is already 2-0 on the year with a 4-1 win over (RV) McPherson and a 1-0 win over (RV) Columbia. While the Pioneers are off to a good start they have lost their 2016 starting goalkeeper and 2016 leading scorer. That game will be played at Noon MST on September 2.
 
McPherson should be the easier of the two, but will by no means be an easy game. The Bulldogs went 15-3-3 in 2016. UP will take on McPherson at 11 a.m. on September 4.