O'FALLON, Ill. -- The Augustana Vikings men''s water polo team will begin their 2022 campaign on Saturday, September 3 when they take on the McKendree Bearcats on the road. The Vikings will also face the Bearcats' club team in an exhibiton contest following the first game.

The Vikings have just one upperclassman entering the 2022 campaign in Joseph Addison, who returns as the team's top scorer and defender as he led the team in both goals (41) and steals (24) in 2021. Augie also brings back another 30-goal contributor in sophomore Colin McDowell, who finished last season with 32 and connected on over 47 percent of his shot attempts. Augie will see a total of seven players back who notched double-digit goals in 2021. Seven Vikings who tallied double figures in assists will also return as Lucas Osborn was the leader in that category a year ago with 17.

In goal, the Vikings bring back two of three players who rotated in net last year. Henry Sothern, who appeared in 14 of 16 games for the Vikings in 2021, grabbed 91 saves with a save percentage of 37.3 percent. The team also returns Max Mees, who had nine saves in three games played.

Augie finished 4-12 a season ago in their inaugural campaign.

The Bearcats enter 2022 after an 11-9 record a season ago. They closed out the year with three wins in their final four outings, including a season-finale victory over Augie by a score of 24-11. McKendree defeated Augustana twice in 2021, winning their home meeting against the Vikings by a score of 16-4.

Start time is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. The game will be live streamed here.