LIVE OPTION LINKS

Thursday || Oct. 17
at Southern Nazarene -  Live Stats
Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Match
Bethany, Oklahoma || Wes Harmon Field (Wanda Rhodes Soccer Complex) || 3 p.m.

Friday || Oct. 18
at Fort Hays State - Live Stats
Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Match
Hays, Kansas || 7 p.m.

THIS WEEK IN MEN'S SOCCER… After taking a week off, the Peacocks – who are currently tied for third place in the MIAA with FHSU – will try to move up in the rankings this week as they head south for a pair of conference matches. On Thursday, UIU will take on the Crimson Storm of Southern Nazarene (2-9, 1-3 MIAA) in Bethany, Oklahoma at 3 p.m. Then on Friday, the Peacocks will head to Hays, Kansas to face the Tigers of Fort Hays State (7-2-1, 2-1-1 MIAA) for their first and only night game of the season. Friday's action is set to begin at 7 p.m.
 
THE SERIES… This will be the second time in the history of the Upper Iowa program that the Peacocks will face the Southern Nazarene Crimson Storm. UIU took a 1-0 victory from the Crimson Storm in Fayette last season as Jared Newman netted the eventual game-winning goal.
 
Friday will mark the third time in the last three years that the Peacocks and Tigers of Fort Hays State have squared off. In each of the last two seasons, FHSU has come to Fayette and escaped with a 3-2 victory.

ROOKIE OF THE WEEK… Freshman midfielder Ty Johnson had his best performance as a Peacock this past week. On Wednesday, as the Peacocks hosted the Crusaders of Clarke University, Johnson scored his first collegiate goal in the 12th minute of action to give UIU a 1-0 lead. He then found the net again, this time in the 24th minute, as he smashed the ball off the crossbar and into the net from five yards out. Still before halftime, Johnson wasn't finished. He added back-to-back assists to give UIU a 4-0 lead going into the break. UIU sealed the match with another goal in the second half to earn the 5-0 victory. Johnson nearly had a hat trick, but his shot in the waning minutes of the game ricocheted off the crossbar and out of play. In all, Johnson had a team-high five shots and placed three of those on goal. The win gives UIU a 6-4-1 overall record this year and a 2-1-1 record in conference play. 
 
SENSATIONAL SOPHOMORE… Head Coach Jason Carlson said in the preseason that his incoming transfer Aaron Calkins simply found a way to score. In high school, Calkins broke the school scoring record before leading Carlson's team at Clarke University in goals scored (11) last season. This year as a Peacock and with Carlson's direction, the sophomore forward from Fond du Lac, Wisconsin is leading the way for UIU with four goals and three assists
 
HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE… Pattison Field has been good to the Peacocks in 2013. UIU has posted an 6-1-1 mark at home this season. The Peacocks are also averaging just over two goals more per match at home than on the road (3.375 compared to 1.33). Four of the five remaining matches for UIU will be on the road including this week's matchups with NSU and FHSU.
 
RANKINGS RELEASE… After a 5-0 victory over Clarke University last week, the Peacocks remain in fourth place in the most recent NSCAA/Continental Tire NCAA Division II Central Region Poll. Lindenwood leads the way with a undefeated 10-0-1 record, but that tie came against Upper Iowa back on Sept. 29 in Fayette. Click here to view the poll.

Rank	Team	Record
1	Lindenwood	10-0-1
2	Fort Hays St.	7-2-1
3	Northeastern State (Okla.)	5-1-3
4	Upper Iowa	6-4-1

 
LAST WEEK... 

For the Peacocks... Last Tuesday, Head Men's Soccer Coach Jason Carlson asked his freshmen midfielder Ty Johnson if he was ready to play a full 90 minutes against Clarke University on Wednesday. The answer he got must have been a resounding yes because Johnson scored two goals and added two assists in the first half against the Crusaders as the Peacocks blew past the coach's former team, 5-0, in a non-conference game at home. The win gives UIU a 6-4-1 record overall this year, while Clarke falls to 1-11 after the loss. For Carlson and former Crusader Aaron Calkins the win meant a little more to them after both made the switch to Upper Iowa prior to the 2013 season.

For the Crimson Storm...  SNU is currently on a three-match losing streak after dropping games to Eastern New Mexico, 6-2, and West Texas A&M, 4-1. The Crimson Storm are just 2-9 this season and have not won any of their three games at home this year. Edgar Pineda leads the team in shots (35) and goals (7) through 11 games; he also has three assists. Blake Rodgers leads the team with six assists and is second on the squad with four goals.

For the Tigers... FHSU picked up a pair of victories thanks to the red-hot play of MIAA Men's Soccer Athlete of the Week Ricardo Yeverino who scored game-winning goals against Eastern New Mexico and Southwest Baptist last week helping the team go 2-0. Yeverino led the team with three goals and two assists (eight points), and he has now scored in three straight games. Friday's matchup with the Peacocks is the only game scheduled this week for the Tigers. FHSU is 3-0 at home this year. 
 
COACH'S CORNER…. More than halfway into his first season, Jason Carlson has led the Peacocks to a 6-4-1 overall record and a 2-1-1 start in the MIAA. Through 11 games, Carlson has the best record for any first-year head coach in the history of Upper Iowa. The Peacocks will need to win the remainder of their games this year to set the school record for most wins in a single season.
  
FOLLOW ALONG... If you can't make the trip down south this weekend, then follow the live stats links above to catch all of the Peacock action live.