LIVE STATS
PEACOCKS Take The Pitch Sooner Than Expected… Upper Iowa Men's Soccer will return to Pattison Field one day sooner than expected. The Peacocks will host the Mount Mercy Mustangs on Wednesday night at 5 p.m.
The Opponent - The Mount Mercy Mustangs, who are a junior- and senior-heavy team, currently have a record of 2-1-1 after tying Concordia University, 1-1, on Sunday. The Mustangs offense averages 17 shots a game and has scored 11 total goals this year. On defense, they allow just under 12 shots a game and have given up 10 scores. Midfielder Juan Maffey leads the team with three goals scored this season. He is followed closely by Aaron Lacy who has two.
Defensive Dominance - In the Peacock's match last Sunday against Regis University of Denver, the Rangers attempted 23 total shots. Thanks to excellent defense and strong goalkeeping from junior Jordan Bell, only two of those shots went up on the scoreboard. Bell racked up seven saves against the Rangers and now has 17 total saves this year.
Newcomers - The 2012 UIU squad features a load of new faces as the team graduated ten seniors from last year’s team that went 10-7-1. Many freshmen saw action in the first weekend of regular-season play including midfielder Rafael Pedroso, starting defender Rhys Williams, midfielder Jason Bishop, defender Jared Devine, defender Simone Lupi, forward Andres Cuesta, midfielder Caleb Crouthamel, midfielder Jakob Bedet, defender Sebastian Smith, forward Cody Vercellotti, defender Troy Ewers, midfielder and defender Elliot Dale and midfielder Scott Togher.
Freshmen in the Back - This year's backline is made up of all freshmen for the Peacocks. Although they make lack some experience, they have the size to intimidate opposing forwards. Starting in the middle at centerback is the 6-foot-2, 174 pound Sebastian Smith. Simone Lupi at 6-1 and Troy Ewers at 6-even man down the outside defender positions for UIU. Rhys Williams, who is 5-10 and 162 pounds, is the smallest defender on the backline, but he makes up for it in speed and has started both games for the Peacocks this year . Elliot Dale, at 6-3 and 174 pounds, is the biggest defender and can come off the bench and bring a physical presence with him. Jared Devine, another freshman, will also see a lot of action this year on the backline.
A Well-Known Opponent- UIU has faced Mount Mercy in each of the past four seasons and the Mustangs have turned into something of a rival. The Peacocks are 2-1-1 in those games and have outscored Mount Mercy 8-5, but the games have been close. The Mustangs were victorious last year in a 2-0 match at Pattison field.
Offensive Woes - Despite doing much better against two very good teams this past weekend than they have in the past, the Peacocks have failed to find the back of the net this year. UIU managed only six shots - only one of which was on-goal - against Metro State in the first regular-season contest of the season. The Peacocks struggled again against Regis University on Sunday, taking only two shots in the entire game, one of which was on-goal.
A Week Off - After Wednesday's game, the Peacocks will have one week off before taking the pitch again. This time it won't be at Pattison Field. UIU will travel for the first time this year as they head north to play Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wisconsin.
