CEDARVILLE, Ohio - It's a new era in Yellow Jacket athletics and the men's soccer team will be the school's first to play as an NCAA Division II program. Cedarville opens the season on Thursday at Southern Indiana at 8 p.m. EST.

The Screaming Eagles were 5-11-2 last season. Fans can follow the LIVE STATS of the contest.

Head Coach Todd Beall returns for his third season at his alma mater. The Jackets were 14-6-3 last fall and placed third at the NCCAA National Tournament.

Now, as members of the new Great Midwest Athletic Conference, the kickers face a DII schedule head on. Despite this being CU's 50th season of men's soccer, nine of the opponents are first-timers while the Jackets have faced two others just once.

Cedarville's home opener will be Saturday against Indianapolis at 7 p.m. The Greyhounds were 12-5-1 in 2011 including a 2-0 result over the Jackets in the first-ever meeting between the two schools. UIndy opens on Thursday at home with Notre Dame (Ohio).