The Week Ahead….

The Schedule…
UPPER IOWA at VITERBO UNIVERSITY– Wednesday – 9/12/12
La Crosse, Wisconsin – Outdoor Athletic Complex – 3 p.m.
 
TRUMAN STATE at UPPER IOWA – Friday – 9/14/12
Pattison Field – Fayette, Iowa – 4 p.m.
Live Stats 
 
MARSHALLTOWN CC at UPPER IOWA – Sunday – 9/16/12
Pattison Field – Fayette, Iowa – 3 p.m.
Live Stats
 
THE MATCHUP… The Peacocks will travel northeast this Wednesday as they take on the Viterbo V-Hawks in a non-conference match. Viterbo (0-4) is still looking for its first win of the season after losing 3-1 to Cardinal Stritch University this past Saturday.
UIU will then head home for their first Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association match of the season as they host Truman State. The Bulldogs are 2-2 this year and they have posted back-to-back wins over Westminster, Missouri and Lindenwood-Belleville, Illinois.
The Peacocks will finish off the weekend against Marshalltown Community College. The Tigers are 4-0-1 this year, but will face Iowa Western Tuesday afternoon.
 
THE SERIES… The Peacocks have met with Viterbo four times since 2006. UIU evened the series at two games apiece with a 2-0 victory at home last season.  
The Truman State Bulldogs have been much more of a common opponent for UIU over the past eight years. The teams have met nine different times since 2004. The Bulldogs hold a 7-2 advantage in the series, but the Peacocks have claimed the last two meetings between the teams including last year’s 1-0 victory in Fayette.
This will be the first time in the history of UIU's program that the Peacocks will face the Tigers of Marshalltown Community College.
 
FAST START, FRESHMAN… 19-year old forward Jason Bishop recorded his first goal of the season and his first collegiate goal last week against Mount Mercy, and it was a beauty. His first shot in the second and final overtime period of Wednesday’s match was blocked by the Mustangs’ goalkeeper, but Bishop was given another chance. A swift jab at the ball resulted in the game-winning goal and Bishop was carried off the field on the shoulders of his teammates. It was another freshman who scored previously in the match helping send the game to overtime. Rafael Pedroso earned UIU’s first goal of the season and gave the Peacocks a 1-0 lead in the first half against the Mustangs. Both freshman have seen increased playing time over the first two weeks of the season and those minutes are expected to increase.
 
FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS… Opponents are finding it very difficult to get past junior goalkeeper Jordan Bell. The Glasgow, Scotland native has given up only six goals this year. At 6-foot-1, Bell’s length has helped him earn 24 saves in just three matches this season. Those numbers become more impressive when you factor in a brand new backline for the Peacocks. With four freshman defenders in front of Bell, he is getting a lot more action between the goalposts.
 
OFFENSIVE URGENCY… After losing ten starters this past offseason, the Peacocks have struggled to score, but that’s not the only problem. They have taken less than a third of the shots their opponents have this year. In the three games this season, UIU has been outshot, 69-22.
 
CHANGING OF THE GUARD… This Wednesday as the Peacocks head north to La Crosse, Wisconsin, there will be a change underway in the V-Hawk program. Viterbo University head coach Andy Lee announced that he has accepted a coaching position with the FC Wisconsin Eclipse Select Soccer Club and will no longer coach the V-Hawks. The university has named Greg Saliaras as interim head coach.

COACH'S CORNER... Head coach Brian Bahl earned his 41st victory at Upper Iowa last week against Mount Mercy. Bahl, who was hired before the 2007 season, is 2-1 against Viterbo in his career and 2-5 against Truman State. Both of those wins against the Bulldogs came during last year's regular season. 
 
ON THE ROAD AGAIN… After this weekend’s contests with Truman State and Marshalltown CC, the Peacocks will hit the road for five straight matches. They will return to Pattison field on October 7th to face North Iowa Area Community College at 3 p.m.