For the first time in the Missouri Valley Conference era, the men’s soccer program has notched double-digit wins – and next year, the team looks to have another successful season.

The Panthers finished the season with a 12-6-3 record, led by All-Conference standouts senior midfielder Mick Galeski and junior Brad Peters.

The Panthers will graduate three starters – but most of the team’s main contributors will return for another run at the conference title.

Next year’s team will boast eight seniors and 20 letter winners.

The difference between this group of seniors is they have been through the struggles of a losing program and have seen the mentality change.

The group only notched five wins as freshmen but over the past two seasons, it has seen Eastern become a major contender in the MVC.

The group members have been main contributors to back-to-back, double-digit win seasons, and two consecutive conference semifinal appearances.

The most important thing about the team is it knows what it takes to be successful and win games. Winning or losing becomes an attitude for any program, and when a team expects to win every game, it is more likely to be successful.

The struggles the players endured their freshman year – and the leadership of seniors Galeski, midfielder Brad Earl and defender Jeremy Maubach – will help them to continue to strengthen the program next season.

Close losses against conference powerhouses Bradley and Creighton show players they are on the same level as two of the Midwest’s top programs.

The team will be led by MVC goal leader Peters and second team All-Conference defender Adam Gartner.

Peters also led the MVC in points and has had two consecutive double-digit goal campaigns.

Gartner played time at midfield and defender this season and was second on the team with nine assists.

The Panthers also return freshman forward Alex Harrison, who was honored by the MVC as a member of its All-Freshman team. Harrison was third on Panthers, behind Peters and Galeski, with 14 points.

The Panthers will also return both of their main goalkeepers, as junior Mark Hansen and sophomore Nick Alexander combined to notch eight shutouts this season.

With this core of players returning, the Panthers should have their sights on the program’s first MVC conference title.