With the first week of classes complete, Benedictine's Fall athletic teams are now well underway. Another busy week awaits, as seven of the eight in-season sports have at least one event on the schedule.
 
FOOTBALL
 
Saturday: vs. Wheaton, Saturday at 7 p.m.
 
The Benedictine football team will begin the 2013 regular season this Saturday under the lights at the Lisle-Benedictine Sports Complex against Wheaton College. It figures to be one of the toughest tests of the season for the Eagles, as the Thunder is traditionally one of the strongest programs in the nation.
 
After finishing 8-2 overall and earning a share of the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin title a year ago, Wheaton enters the season ranked 15th in the d3football.com pre-season poll. The Thunder have finished the season ranked in d3football.com's top 25 in each of the past three seasons and seven total times since 2003. Also, the program has had 18 different players named d3football.com All-American since 1999.
 
Last season, six Wheaton players were named All-North Region by d3football.com, and 13 players were named All-CCIW. Six of those 13 have returned, including senior quarterback Jordan Roberts. The Aurora Christian product led the CCIW in passing yards per game (250), passing touchdowns (29), completion percentage (70 percent), and passing efficiency (173.7) last season. The Thunder defeated BenU 48-7 to open the season last year at McCully Stadium in Wheaton.
 
VOLLEYBALL
 
Saturday: Red and Black Triangular
 
After going 1-3 in California, Volleyball returns to Illinois with two games upcoming on Saturday. The Eagles will take on North Central College and Lake Forest College as a part of the annual Red and Black Triangular in Lake Forest.
 
Benedictine will square off against NCC first at 12:00 p.m. The Cardinals are coming off of a solid season a year ago, as they finished 23-11 overall with a 5-2 CCIW record. Picked to finish third in the CCIW's pre-season coaches' poll, North Central returns five starters from last season, including second-team All-CCIW setter Laura Kluk. The sophomore led the CCIW in assists per game (10.13) last season. North Central is 1-2 to begin the season, defeating Manchester and falling to Anderson and Kalamazoo this past weekend at the Kalamazoo College Green Hornet Invitational.
 
Last season, the Eagles defeated the Cardinals in both meetings, winning 3-2 and 3-1. BenU and NCC meet often, as schools typically meet at least two times a season. Since 2006, the Eagles are 4-12 against the Cardinals, but are 3-3 since 2010. NCC's Head Coach, Karen Bunkenburg, is married to Benedictine Head Men's Basketball Coach Keith Bunkenburg.
 
At 2 p.m., the Eagles will take on host Lake Forest. Members of the Midwest Conference, the Foresters are coming off of a 17-10 season with a 7-3 conference record. The team was picked to finish tied for third in the MWC pre-season coaches' poll and is 2-2 to start the season. Lake Forest defeated Illinois Wesleyan and Wisconsin Lutheran and lost to Buena Vista and Elmhurst at the Elmhurst Invitational this past weekend.
 
Benedictine defeated Lake Forest in five sets last season at the Dan and Ada Rice Center. After capturing the first two sets, the Eagles dropped sets three and four before winning the fifth set 15-3. The Eagles and Foresters have faced each other at least once in each season since 2006, with the Eagles holding a 7-1 record in that span.
 
MEN'S SOCCER
 
Wednesday: at Carthage, 7 p.m.
 
Coming off of a decisive 8-0 victory against Eureka College to open the season, men's soccer has two games on the schedule this week. The first game takes place on Wednesday night when the Eagles travel to Kenosha, Wisconsin to take on Carthage.
 
Carthage is traditionally one of the CCIW's top programs, as the Red Men have made nine straight CCIW Tournaments. They are coming off of a season in which they finished 14-6 overall and 4-3 in conference play, and the team was picked to finish third in the CCIW pre-season coaches' poll.
 
To start the season, the Red Men went 1-1 in the 2013 West Coast Classic in California this past weekend, defeating Pomona-Pitzer and falling to La Verne. Junior Michael Dombrowski, who was first team All-CCIW a season ago, scored three goals over the weekend.  The Eagles lost to Carthage in Lisle last season 4-0.
 
Saturday: vs. University of Chicago, 2:30 p.m.
 
Men's soccer plays the second home match of the season on Saturday afternoon when the University of Chicago visits Lisle.
 
Last season, the Maroons finished 8-4-5 overall with a 2-3-2 University Athletic Association record. The team played a very difficult schedule a season ago, facing four nationally-ranked (by the NSCAA coaches' poll) opponents and playing in seven overtime games. Chicago returns two second team All-UAA players (midfielder Michael Choquette and forward Kyle Kurfist) from a season ago.
 
The Maroons have yet to play a game this season, as last Saturday's season opener against Dominican was postponed. However, the Maroons did defeat Loyola (Ill.) 2-1 in an exhibition game back on August 19. Chicago is slated to host Aurora on Wednesday before taking on the Eagles on Saturday.
 
WOMEN'S SOCCER
 
Thursday: at North Central, 7 p.m.
 
Like men's soccer, the women's soccer team also has two games this week. The first game will take place on Thursday night, as the Eagles will head a few miles west down Maple Ave. to take on North Central College in the Sal Vaccaro Tournament.
 
The Cardinals are coming off of a 2012 campaign where they finished 6-9-3 overall and 2-3-2 in CCIW play. It was a big step forward for NCC, as the team made its first CCIW Tournament appearance in school history. North Central returns eight starters and 14 letterwinners from last season's team, including first team All-CCIW midfielder Hope Stayer.
 
To start the season, the Cardinals are 0-1, as they fell to nationally-ranked University of Chicago 4-0 on Monday (ranked by the NSCAA coaches' poll). Last season, the Eagles fell 3-0 to the Cardinals in Lisle.
 
Sunday: Lewis and Clark College, 11 a.m.
 
Game two of the Sal Vaccaro Tournament will come on Sunday morning. BenU will take on Lewis and Clark College at 11 a.m. at North Central College.
 
Hailing all the way from Portland, Oregon, Lewis and Clark competes in the Northwest Conference. Last season, the Pioneers were 7-9-3 overall and 7-6-3 in NWC play, which was the team's best conference finish since 1985 and the school record for conference victories. This season, Lewis and Clark was picked to place fourth in the NWC's preseason coaches' poll. The team returns first team All-NWC forward Emily Thompson, who scored six goals last season.
 
Lewis and Clark is 1-0 to begin the season, defeating Hamline 2-1 on Friday in Portland. Thompson and forward Anna Thorndike netted the two goals for the Pioneers. The team takes on North Central on Saturday before facing the Eagles on Sunday.
 
TENNIS
 
Wednesday: at Concordia-Chicago, 4 p.m.
 
After dropping two Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference matches to open the season this past Saturday, three more NACC matchups await this week for Tennis. The first one comes on Wednesday when the Eagles travel to River Forest to take on Concordia-Chicago.
 
Last season, the Eagles topped the Cougars 7-2 and won five of the six singles matches. 2013 team members Bhavana Movva, Vivianna Iway, Kam Haifleigh, and Micah Goyao all won singles matches, while the tandems of Haifleigh/Iway and Goyao/Anna Savio came out on top in doubles. The Eagles are 4-3 against the Cougars since the conference was introduced in 2006, with the Eagles winning four of the five matchups since 2008.
 
Saturday: at Wisconsin Lutheran (9 a.m.) and Alverno (2 p.m.)
 
The Eagles will take on two Milwaukee, Wisconsin schools for Saturday's conference doubleheader. BenU will travel to Wisconsin Lutheran for a morning match, followed by a trip to Alverno in the afternoon.
 
Wisconsin Lutheran is coming off a terrific season in which they went 10-1 in conference play, and the team is 20-2 in conference over the past two seasons. Last season's record included a 6-3 victory over the Eagles, but BenU's Movva, Haifleigh, and Savio each won singles matches in that competition. Since 2006, the Eagles are 3-4 against Wisconsin Lutheran. The Warriors have played two non-conference matches this season, falling to both Lake Forest and Lawrence 9-0.
 
Alverno is coming off of a 2012 campaign where they finished 3-8 in conference play. The Eagles were able to get the best of the Inferno last year, defeating them 9-0. Goyao won her singles match 6-0, 6-0, and the tandem of Goyao/Movva won 8-0. Benedictine is 3-1 against Alverno since its women's tennis team joined the conference in 2009.
 
MEN'S GOLF
 
Tuesday: Aurora University Invite, 10 a.m.
 
Men's golf will compete in the second invitational of the year on Tuesday morning. The team will head to the Aurora Country Club to partake in the Aurora University Invite.
 
Last season, the Eagles also competed in the Aurora University Invite. The team placed eighth in the event with a score of 701. Steve Chmelovsky totaled 173, shooting rounds of 90 and 83.
 
Sunday-Monday: Midwest Region Classic
 
In addition to Tuesday's invitational, men's golf will compete in the Midwest Region Classic on Sunday and Monday in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin. The competition will take place at Trappers Turn Resort.
 
The competition figures to be difficult for Benedictine in Wisconsin Dells. Fortunately, the Eagles have already faced tough opponents this season in the Culver's Edgewood College Fall Classic this past weekend. BenU placed 11th in that event and were led by Chmelovsky, who shot +11 with scores of 78 and 75.  

WOMEN'S GOLF

Saturday: Monmouth Invite, 10 a.m.

Women's golf will also compete this coming weekend, as the Eagles will travel to Monmouth, Illinois to compete in the Monmouth Invite. The event will take place at Gibson Woods Golf Club.

BenU competed in the Carthage Tournament on the Border this past weekend, placing 13th. The Eagles were led by Allee Schuzer, who shot +33. The team also received a strong preformance from Susan Anthony, who shot +44 in her first college contest.