Missouri Valley Conference delays start of soccer season

Men’s and women’s soccer teams in the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) will have to wait until at least September 18 play their first games of the season.

Team practices will be eligible to begin on August 17. The MVC, an NCAA Division I conference, will still allow its teams to play non-conference games.

On the women’s side, the MVC features the following 8 teams: Loyola Chicago, Illinois State, Missouri State, Drake, Valparaiso, Evansville, Indiana State and UNI.

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MVC men’s soccer includes the following 6 programs: Missouri State, Loyola Chicago, Bradley, Drake, Valparaiso and Evansville.

See below for the full statement from the MVC:

The Missouri Valley Conference Presidents Council has announced that it will delay the start of competition in MVC fall sports until Friday, Sept. 18, and the league will conduct conference-only competition in men’s soccer, women’s soccer and volleyball.

This decision does not include football-playing institutions that compete in leagues with separate governing bodies (members of the Pioneer Football League and the Missouri Valley Football Conference). It also does not include non-MVC sponsored sports in which Conference institutions compete.

Fall competitive schedules for men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s golf, and women’s tennis will also be delayed until Sept. 18, as will the non-championship fall seasons for baseball and softball. Additionally, the start of fall practice for all MVC-sponsored sports may not start before Aug. 17. Beginning with Sept. 18, student-athletes in those sports may compete against non-conference competition, provided that non-MVC institutions meet the necessary safety specifications as outlined in the NCAA’s Resocialization of College Sports Guidelines.

At this time, schedules for winter and spring sports are not impacted. MVC championship models for fall sports as previously announced are also not impacted. MVC institutions may continue with permissible athletics activities at their discretion under approved safety protocols established in the NCAA’s Resocialization of College Sports Guidelines, while following state, local and institutional policies.

The MVC and its Presidents Council will continue to monitor national developments and, if necessary, will consider additional action as dictated by circumstances.