LIVE OPTION LINKS

Thursday || Nov. 7
vs. Lindenwood University - Live Stats
MIAA Championship Semifinals
Olathe, Kansas || 7 p.m.
 
2013-14 MIAA Men's Soccer Championship Website || Bracket

THIS WEEK IN PEACOCK SOCCER… For the third time this year, the Peacocks will face the top-ranked team in the region and the sixth-ranked team in the nation. UIU will head south to Olathe, Kansas as part of the 2013-14 MIAA Men's Soccer Championship to face the Lions of Lindenwood University (16-0-2) on Thursday night at 7 p.m.

THE SERIES…  Thursday's match will be the first playoff meeting between the Lions and the Peacocks, but the fifth overall meeting between the schools. LU owns a 4-0-1 hold on the series lead, but UIU managed a scoreless tie earlier this year in Fayette against the Lions before falling to them in Missouri late in the year.

PERFECT ON P.K.S… Leandro Pena is not just leading the Peacocks in goals scored this year. The Lavras, Brazil native has taken the most shots, scored the most points, dished out the most assists and scored the most penalty kicks. The sophomore has six goals this year and is tied for the team-high with 5 assists. He is also three-for-three on penalty kicks. That includes the Peacocks only goal against LU in their last matchup on October 26.
 
13 FOR 13… Lucky number 13 Aaron Calkins has a total of 13 points this year. Calkins has scored five times and has earned three assists. Three of those goals and one of those assists came in the month of October in which the Peacocks went 4-3-1. The Fond du Lac, Wisconsin native is also tied for first on the team with a .500 shots-on-goal average for players who have taken more than 10 shots this year. There's no doubt about it - 2013 has been special for number 13.
 
FOUR STARTS AND FOUR GOALS… Jared Newman has played in a total of 14 games this year, but has made just four starts. Despite scoring four goals this year, none of those have come when his name is in the starting lineup, but those four goals is good for a tie for fourth place on the team. Three of those scores came in back-to-back-to-back games in the month of September.
 
GOALS GALORE… Whether the team is eking out a 1-0 win over Simpson, or crushing Clarke at home 5-0, the Peacocks offense has been solid in 2013. In fact, this 2013 squad has set a school record for most goals in a season with 38. The previous record was held by the 2008 and 2000 teams with 35 goals in a single year. With at least one game remaining, the Peacocks will be able to set that record in stone with a good finish to the year.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN… The Peacocks have not had good luck playing away from home this season. Pattison Field has been good to the Peacocks in 2013 with UIU posting a 7-1-1 mark at home this season, but the road is a different story. The Peacocks are averaging a goal and a half more per match at home than on the road (3.11 compared to 1.42). UIU has just a 1-5-1 record away from Fayette this year.
 
LAST WEEK… The Peacocks were idle last week. UIU took a week off before the start of the 2013-14 MIAA Men's Soccer Championships.

For the Lions… The Lindenwood Lions soccer team closed out its 2013 regular season with a 3-1 win over the Rogers State Hillcats last Sunday in St. Charles, Mo. The Lions ended their regular season with an overall record of 16-0-2. The unbeaten regular season was the first in program history. LU will start postseason play on Thursday night in the MIAA Tournament where they are the defending champions.

COACH'S CORNER…. At the end of his first regular season, Jason Carlson has led his squad to quite the turnaround. For the first time in program history, a first-year coach has made the playoffs at Upper Iowa. Furthermore, the Peacocks – who were just 5-13 and 2-8 in the MIAA last year – finished 2013 with an 8-6-2 overall record and a 3-3-2 mark in MIAA play. That's the best record for any first-year head coach in Upper Iowa history and for the first time since joining the MIAA, UIU is guaranteed to finish above .500 for the first time since joining the MIAA.

FOLLOW ALONG... Follow the Peacocks' shot at a MIAA Championship on Thursday with the live stats link above provided by Northeastern State University. Or click here – Live Stats