The Salukis competed in their first home tournament Sunday afternoon at the Lew Hartzog Track and Field Complex, where they faced two Indiana schools. The soccer club came up short against Indiana University 4-2, but defeated Indiana State with a 7-0 win.

This year, there are 12 new members and 28 total club members. The team is working to blend the newcomers and returning teammates.

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As the season progresses, the soccer club will compete against schools in Chicago, Champaign, Iowa and Indiana.

First-year president, Brian Koebel, a senior from Naperville studying Electrical Engineering, said the soccer club is capable of making it to regionals, and even nationals.

“Once we get going, I think our team will go far,” Koebel said.

Gordon Lee, a senior from Herrin studying Zoology, said this year’s team could be one of the best thus far.

“I’m looking forward to meshing with my teammates,” he said. “I think we have a lot of good talent on our team this year.”

Jared Stern, a freshman from Vernon Hills studying Aviation Flight is one of the newcomers to the soccer club and said he is very excited about the season.

“Coming in with all of the older guys after starting to bond with them, I am really looking to take a leadership role in the backline,” Stern said.

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Stern has played soccer since he was 4 years old. He said he was interested in getting involved in what he loved to do, so he decided to join club soccer.

He said he preforms better academically when he stays active.

Joey Martinez, a senior from Charleston studying Computer Engineering, also said campus involvement is important.

“It helps you stay busy,” Martinez said. “You don’t just want to sit around, you have to get out and do something active.”

Since there are many new members of the soccer club, the team tries new ways to keep them connected.

“Every once in a while, we hang out off the field,” Lee said. “The chemistry is getting there, but we have definitely been trying to connect outside of the field so it will show on the field.”

Once everyone is comfortable playing as a team, the soccer club members think they will be hard to beat.

“We have so many talented individuals, and we just have to find a way to make it work for our team,” Martinez said. “We just have to get the chemistry together.”

The next game will be at home Oct. 12 as the club competes against the University of Chicago and DePaul University.