By Mason Nesbitt, TMU Sports Information Director

Benji Tembo began by uttering one of sports’ great (if grammatically incorrect) platitudes.

“We need to take each and every game serious,” said The Master’s University senior midfielder.

But he wasn’t finished.

“We should go for it. Our goal should be nationals.”

The Mustangs have every reason to go for it in 2018. They return Tembo, the reigning Golden State Conference Player of the Year, a loaded midfield, a dangerous forward and a dynamic, new-look backline. Not to mention, there’s everything to play for: The winner of the GSAC’s regular season title will earn an automatic bid to the NAIA national tournament and a bye in the first round.

The league champion, effectively, will be four wins from a national title.

“Every team in the conference knows what’s on the line,” said Tembo, whose squad was picked to finish third in the GSAC preseason coaches poll and received votes nationally. “For this group, we haven’t been to nationals, so we’re going to push for it.”

Tembo led the GSAC in goals (17) and points (42) last season. He shared the conference lead in assists (eight) with teammate Luis Garcia Sosa (pictured above), who with Tembo makes up half of an uber-talented midfield.

The other two, seniors Leo Anjos and Jonathan Brown, both compiled double-digit points last season. Anjos and Garcia Sosa were all-conference picks.

To start the year, Brown will likely shift to forward where he’ll team with seniors Trevor Mangan and Daniel Smith. Mangan was second on the Mustangs with a career-high eight goals in 2017, while Smith settled into his role as the year progressed after transferring in from Grace College in Indiana. Smith scored in three straight games in October.

“We have a lot of seniors and great attacking players,” said head coach Jim Rickard. “We have several players who can score goals and are dangerous. They like to combine and play together.”

It all adds up to …

“We play exciting soccer,” Rickard said.

The coach is also excited about his defense. The Mustangs reloaded on that side of the field this offseason by adding transfers Tyler Grassi and Cameron Molyneux, both defenders, and goalie Matheus

Taraszkiewicz to a core headlined by veteran defenders Matthew Logan and Justin Ikeora.

“The guys coming in, they bring so much fire,” Brown said. “… They bring something that we need to get to the next level. (This group) has never been in the national tournament. That’s what we’re shooting for. There’s just this kind of magic in the air, so we’re all excited about it.”

The Mustangs open the season Friday against Northwest Christian University (Ore.), with Menlo College in Atherton, Calif., serving as the venue. Master’s will then face Southern Oregon University, which received votes in the NAIA preseason poll, on Saturday. The marquee matchup of non-conference play comes Sept. 15, when the Mustangs take on No. 4 Marymount California University on the road.

It all sets the stage for an eight-game GSAC slate with a trip to the NAIA’s final 16 on the line.

“Every game is a playoff game now,” Brown said. “… The atmosphere is going to be even more hyped up.”

Are the Mustangs in the mix?

“We’re fighting for a GSAC championship,” Rickard said. “I think several teams are all in the mix together. It’s going to depend on not having injuries and peaking at the right time, but I think we have a real shot.”