Preview: Chicago State Men's Soccer Opens Season vs. Northwestern

Storylines

• In the fall of 2021, Chicago State embarks on its second-ever men's soccer season, and first full slate of competition since the program competed in the 1980s

• Chicago State University announced on June 23, 2020 that it would finally begin a men's soccer team, effective immediately and hired head coach Trevor Banks on July 20, 2020. Banks spent the last four years at Brown University, where he had served as associate head coach since February of 2017. A Carencro, Louisiana native, he has also coached at Villanova, Merchant Marine Academy, Barry University and William Woods University. Banks played collegiately at Kentucky Wesleyan from 2006-09.

• In the spring of 2021, the Cougars competed in matches against both Northern Illinois and Xavier, while facing South Suburban College in an exhibition match and winning, 2-0.

• Banks on starting a program from scratch: "I've always wanted to start a program. And I've always been ambitious about being a Division I head coach. Being able to do the two together is really special. But being able to do it in the Southside of Chicago, the same type of neighborhood I grew up in, is very special to me."

•Three new assistant coaches join Banks this season: Norris Howze, Joshua Clark and Charlie Latshaw.

• The fall 2021 season begins on Thursday, August 26 with an evening showdown against Northwestern at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois. The home opener also marks the program's Youth Soccer and Faculty/Staff Appreciation Night.

• Northwestern Scout: The Wildcats welcome head coach Russell Payne in his first season at the helm after 11 seasons coaching Army West Point. Payne has developed talent at the highest level, serving as the United States Men's National Team goalkeepers coach from 2015-17 and as a current assistant coach and goalkeepers coach for four youth national programs.

• Last season, the Wildcats finished 2-8-1, earning wins over Wisconsin and Indiana in February before going winless over their final eight matches.

• Banks on playing at SeatGeek Stadium and the opener against Northwestern: It's going to be intense, and it's going to be crazy. We want it that way. We want the intensity. We want the craziness. We want all of Chicagoland there. We want to be able to represent, especially representing the South Side of Chicago. We want to represent very well. That's why I was excited when we had the opportunity to have Northwestern on the schedule. To play a team out of Chicago, right out of the gate, and a very good team at that, we're excited about it."

"For me, playing at SeatGeek, in an MLS-caliber stadium, for our group, we're excited about it. We'll be able to have fans there, it's Youth and Faculty/Staff Appreciation Night, so hopefully everyone wants to see these two Chicago teams play, the north versus the south, and we're excited about it."

• For the second consecutive season, Banks' Cougars will play in SeatGeek Stadium, which served as home to the MLS' Chicago Fire from 2006-19 (formerly Toyota Park). The facility also hosts the NWSL's Chicago Red Stars and Chicago House AC of the NISA.

• In addition to key returners like defender Shaquan Reid, the Cougars' fall roster includes a slew of incoming talent with experience at the junior college international level, including Gaye Diadie, a grad transfer from Georgia Southern, Tahja Reynolds (Jefferson College) and Rashawn Kellman (Illinois Central), both former junior college All-Americans.

• Niall Reid-Stephen, a Barbados youth prodigy, has competed at every level for his home country of Barbados. In March, the 19-year-old made his Senior National Team starting debut, securing the role in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Panama. Calwayne Allen is an under-20 Jamaican National Team captain.

•Banks on this year's team identity: "Attitude, commitment, effort, pace. It's all about that. You're going to watch us put 100 percent effort into everything we do. The attitude on the field is going to be great and their commitment to what we're trying to do, how we're trying to play is going to be there and that's what I'm excited to showcase within this group."

About Chicago State

Chicago State University Athletics is comprised of 15 intercollegiate teams involving over 150 student-athletes that compete in basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, tennis, indoor and outdoor track and volleyball. CSU held memberships in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and NCAA Division II before transitioning to NCAA Division I in 1994. Melvin Bland was the first CSU student-athlete to gain NAIA All-American status in 1974 as a wrestler. Fred Evans became the first black swimmer ever to win a national championship in 1975. CSU's women's basketball team earned a spot in the 2011 Women's Basketball Invitational and CSU's men's basketball team won the 2013 Great West Conference Tournament title and made an appearance in the CollegeInside.com Postseason Tournament (CIT).  The Men's Outdoor Track & Field 4x100-Meter Relay team were 2019 Honorable Mention All-Americans and WAC Champions. Their feat marked the first time the Chicago State's men's track & field program was represented at the national meet. 

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