The Mid-American Conference has announced the addition of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville as an affiliate member in the sport of men's soccer. SIUE will begin play as a MAC affiliate in the 2018 season.
With the addition of SIUE, the Conference will consist of six men's soccer programs – four from full MAC membership (Akron, Bowling Green, Northern Illinois and Western Michigan) and two affiliate members (SIUE and West Virginia). SIUE also was named as a MAC affiliate in the sport of wrestling.
"After significant study and discussion by our member institution's coaches and administrators the Mid-American Conference has made a move to strengthen the Conference with the addition of SIU Edwardsville as an affiliate member in both men's soccer and wrestling," said Dr. Jon Steinbrecher, MAC Commissioner. "Both programs will add quality and depth to the Conference. I am pleased to welcome SIU Edwardsville, their student-athletes, coaches, administrators and fans to the Mid-American Conference."
SIUE men's soccer is coming off its most successful season since its return to NCAA Division I competition in 2008. The Cougars won their second Missouri Valley Conference tournament championship before advancing to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA College Cup during the 2016 season. SIUE dispatched No. 13 Michigan State and No. 11 Butler on its way to the third round, where the Cougars fell to eventual runner-up Wake Forest.
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Keaton Reynolds heads toward goal in the teams' 2015 meeting
The Cougars finished the year with a 10-5-7 record, marking the second consecutive year SIUE finished with at least 10 wins and the third double-digit win season in the past five years. The 2016 College Cup appearance marked the Cougars'Â 15th appearance in the NCAA Division I championship and the 23rd NCAA tournament appearance overall. SIUE won an NCAA Division I National Championship in 1979. The Cougars were national runners-up in 1975, finished third in 1977 and were national semifinalists in 1982. SIUE also captured the College Division National Title in 1972, was runner-up at the Division II level in 2004 and a semifinalist in 2005.
SIUEÂ and BGSU have met four times in men's soccer, with the Cougars holding a 3-1-0 advantage in the series. But, the Falcons won the most recent meeting, downing the Cougars by a 3-1 score on Aug. 28, 2015, at Cochrane Stadium.
 ABOUT THE MAC
Founded in 1946, the Mid-American Conference is an NCAA Division I, 12-member conference that sponsors 23 championships and is one of ten members of the Football Bowl Subdivison (FBS). With total enrollment of nearly 300,000 students, the league represents institutions of higher learning in five (5) states -- Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, New York, and Ohio.
Current full member institutions and the year they joined are -- East Division: University of Akron (1992), Bowling Green State University (1952), University at Buffalo (1998), Kent State University (1951), Miami University (1947), Ohio University (1946). West Division: Ball State University (1973), Central Michigan University (1971), Eastern Michigan University (1971), Northern Illinois University (1975-86, rejoined in 1997), University of Toledo (1950), Western Michigan University (1947). The conference office is based in Cleveland, Ohio.
 (portions of this release courtesy MAC Office)
