Men's Soccer – the Week Ahead….
THE SCHEDULE…
NORTH IOWA AREA CC at UPPER IOWA – SUNDAY – 10/7/12
Pattison Field – Fayette, Iowa – 3 p.m.
Live Stats
Video Webcast
THE SERIES… This will be the first time in the history of the Upper Iowa program that the Peacocks will face the North Iowa Area CC Trojans.
THE MATCHUP… NIACC enters Friday’s matchup with the Peacocks with a 3-8 record, including a 3-5 mark in the ICCAC. The Trojans have totaled 16 goals this season. NIACC dropped its most recent match to Marshalltown Community College, 1-0, in overtime. The Peacocks have also played the Tigers of Marshalltown CC (8-3-1), earning a 1-0 victory at home back on September 16th. Jason Dominguez leads the Trojans with two goals scored this season. Leo Driscoll and Joe Fox have both found the back of net once this year for NIACC. Adian Bacher has started three matches in goal for the Trojans and has accumulated 12 saves, while giving up five goals.
GETTING YOUR BELL RUNG… Peacock goalkeeper
Jordan Bell has had his highs and lows for the 2012 season, but when at his best, Bell has proven he can be impenetrable. At 6-foot-1, Bell's length has helped him earn a total of 68 saves this year - a number good enough for a first-place spot atop the MIAA conference. Bell is also first in saves per match (6.43) and is in second place with a .776 save percentage. Those numbers become more impressive when you factor in a full freshman backline for the Peacocks. Bell has given up nine goals over the past three matches, but will try to shut down the Trojan offense, which manages just under one and a half goals per match.
DOUBLED-UP … It’s not a big surprise, but after graduating ten seniors from last year’s squad the Peacocks have struggled to find the back of the net in 2012. UIU has been shutout five times this year, including last Sunday’s match against Northeastern State. The Peacocks have been doubled-up when it comes to shooting, having been outshot 209-102 this year and that proves to be a big factor in their lack of scoring.
DON’T STICK A FORK IN THEM YET… Don’t count the Peacocks out of the playoff race in the MIAA just yet. Sitting at 1-4 is not idealistic, but with a little optimism, UIU is still in the postseason hunt. Entering their longest home stretch of the year, the Peacocks have five conference matches left, and if they win them all they will most likely make the four-team conference tournament at the end of the year. The Peacocks will start out MIAA play at home as they host Southern Nazarene (1-10 overall) next Saturday, before facing Fort Hayes State (8-2 overall) on Sunday. Then they will welcome Southwest Baptist University, a team they already defeated this year on the road, to Fayette before hosting Lindenwood University. The Peacocks will finish the year on the road against Truman State (Oct. 26) in a match that could determine if UIU will make the postseason. UIU will need to finish the season very strong and will need a little luck, but don’t count the Peacocks out just yet.
A TRUE ASSIST-ANT… Senior forward
Dan Rasmussen and junior forward
Alejandro Castaneda are tied for eighth place in the MIAA with two assists each this season.
UNO, DOS, TRES… Freshman forward
Rafael Pedroso scored the lone Peacock goal last week against Mount Mercy on Wednesday to give him a total of three scores this season. The Sao Paulo, Brazil native has started two matches for the Peacocks, but has played in all 11 matches taking a total of ten shots, four of which were on goal. Look for his playing time to increase this week at the center-mid position.
HOMECOMING IS A WEEKEND LATE… With official homecoming festivities occurring over this past weekend, the men’s soccer team had to celebrate on the road. UIU, which has not played at home since the middle of September, will hit its longest home-match streak of the year. The Peacocks were last at home on September 16th when they defeated Marshalltown CC, 1-0. UIU will follow Sunday’s home match against the Trojans with back-to-back home weekends. Four of those five opponents will be from the MIAA.
