National Collegiate Athletic Association

NCAA News Archive - 2010

back to 2010 | Back to NCAA News Archive Index

Mar 26, 2010 8:38:36 AM

The Summit League recently added Eastern Illinois as an affiliate member in men's soccer, beginning in 2011.

The Panthers were a charter member when the league was known as the Association of Mid-Continent Universities.

Eastern Illinois has been an affiliate member in men's and women's swimming and diving since 2005 and held full membership in the league from 1982 until 1996. The men's soccer program has been an affiliate in the Missouri Valley Conference since 1996 and will compete in that league in 2010.

"The addition of Eastern Illinois is a good fit competitively and geographically and will be mutually beneficial for both EIU and our current men's soccer programs," said Summit League Commissioner Tom Douple.

As part of the then-Mid-Continent Conference, the Panthers won at least a share of the league title give times, including three consecutive titles from 1987-89. Eastern Illinois joins IPFW, IUPUI, Oakland, Oral Roberts, UMKC and Western Illinois in the Summit League's men's soccer schedule.