Men's Soccer – the Week Ahead….
 
THE SCHEDULE…
 
UPPER IOWA at HARDING UNIVERSITY – FRIDAY – 9/28/12
Harding Soccer Field – Searcy, Arkansas – 5 p.m.
MID-AMERICAN ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION Match
Live Stats 
 
UPPER IOWA at NORTHEASTERN STATE – SUNDAY – 9/30/12
MID-AMERICAN ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION Match
DeLoache Field – Tahlequah, Oklahoma – 1 p.m.
Live Stats
 
THE SERIES… This will be the first time in the history of the Upper Iowa program that the Peacocks will face the Harding University Bison.
The Northeastern State RiverHawks and the Peacocks have not faced each other before either. Sunday will mark the first matchup between these teams as UIU makes the transition into the MIAA.
 
THE MATCHUP… Harding enters Friday’s matchup with the Peacocks with a 3-4-1 record, including a 1-2 mark in conference play. The Bison have totaled 10 goals this season, nine of which have come from nine different players. Chase Keeney has started six matches in goal for the Bison and has accumulated 26 saves this year. Harding most recently tied Central Baptist, 1-1, at home. Coach Odie Guzman is in his first season at the helm of Bison soccer.
The RiverHawks of Northeastern State University enter Sunday’s matchup with the Peacocks with a 5-2 record overall, including a 2-1 record in the MIAA. Senior midfielder Bo White leads the squad with eight goals scored through eight matches. Edgar Gonzaga is second on the team with three goals scored and one assist. The RiverHawks will host Truman State a day before taking on the Peacocks in just their second match at home in 2012 – Northeatern State previous defeated Harding University, 3-1, at home back on September 15th. It will be important for UIU to get a fast start because the RiverHawks are 4-0 this year when they score first.
 
FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS… Peacock goalkeeper Jordan Bell has had his highs and lows for the 2012 season, but when at his best, Bell has proven he's hard to score on.  At 6-foot-1, Bell's length has helped him earn a total of 53 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 in second place with a .776 save percentage. Those numbers become more impressive when you factor in a brand new backline for the Peacocks. With four freshman defenders in front of him, Bell is seeing a lot more action between the posts.
 
JUST OFFENSIVE … UIU has struggled to score this season, having been shutout three times, including last Saturday’s match against Lindenwood. The Peacocks have been outshot 160-81 this year and that proves to be a big factor in their lack of scoring. UIU is tied for last in the MIAA in two important statistics: shots and goals.  
 
A TRUE ASSIST-ANT… Senior forward Dan Rasmussen and junior forward Alejandro Castaneda are tied for sixth place in the MIAA with two assists each this season.
 
UNO, DOS, TRES… Freshman forward Rafael Pedroso scored the lone Peacock goal 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 nine taking a total of nine shots, four of which were on goal.
 
COACH'S CORNER... Head coach Brian Bahl earned his 43rd victory at helm of the Upper Iowa men’s soccer team last Thursday against Southwest Baptist University. Bahl, who was hired before the 2007 season, has not faced the RiverHawks or the Bison before in his career.
 
HOMECOMING IS A 10-HOUR DRIVE TO ARKANSAS… Upper Iowa started the week with a short road trip to Cedar Rapids to face Mount Mercy, but that was just the start. While most of the other Peacock sports celebrate Homecoming in Fayette, the men’s soccer team will enjoy a 10 and a half hour bus ride to Searcy, Arkansas to face Harding University on Friday. They will then head four hours west to Tahlequah, Oklahoma to battle against Northeastern State University on Sunday. The Peacocks will return to Pattison field on October 7th to face North Iowa Area Community College at 3 p.m.