LIVE STATS: Southwest Baptist || Northeastern StateLIVE WEBCAST: Southwest Baptist || Northeastern StateThis week in Peacock men's soccer… Upper Iowa (2-1-1) finishes off a four-game stretch of home games to start the season with a pair MIAA conference matches against Southwest Baptist on Thursday at 2 p.m., followed by Northeastern State on Saturday at Noon.The Bearcats of Southwest Baptist enter the week at 0-5. The Peacocks defeated the Bearcats in Fayette last season, 4-2, and tied when the teams tangled in Bolivar, Mo., 1-1. The Northeastern State RiverHawks are 2-2 so far this season, having dropped their last two matches. In 2013, the RiverHawks defeated the Peacocks, 2-1, in their only meeting of the year.
Soaring to Four... In the week two NSCAA/Continental Tire NCAA Division II Men's rankings, the Peacocks moved up one spot to the No. 4 ranking in the Central Regional. Northeastern State (No. 1), Fort Hays State (2), Lindenwood (3), Southern Nazarene (5), Harding (7) and Southwest Baptist (8) were the other MIAA schools ranked in the Central Regional.
Spreading the Wealth... The Peacocks have scored in all four games to start the year, but have also had five different players (
Ryan Pinkerton,
Greg Marshall,
Jared Newman,
Aaron Calkins and
Rhys Williams) find the back of the net. Both Newman and Williams' goals were game winners. In 2013, the Peacocks had ten different players score and it appears this year's squad is poised for another balanced attack.
On the Attack... Although Upper Iowa has only outscored opponents 5-4, the Peacocks have been the better attacking side early in the season. UIU has outshot their opponents 64-33 so far this year and earned 25 corner kicks compared to giving up just 15 to opponents.
Last week for the Bearcats… Southwest Baptist lost a pair of games last week, falling to South Dakota School of Mines & Technology, 2-1. The Bearcats took a 1-0 lead into halftime, but couldn't hold off the Hardrockers, who scored twice in the second half for the win. Earlier this year, Upper Iowa defeated the Hardrockers, 1-0, on Sept. 7. Southwest Baptist then dropped a match, 5-2, to the University of Mary. The Marauders jumped out a 2-0 lead eight minutes into the game and despite scoring a couple goals, the Bearcats were not able to overcome to early deficit.Last week for the RiverHawks… Northeastern State came into last week as the No. 7 team in the country. The RiverHawks lost their first game of the year, 1-0, against Colorado School of Mines, despite outshooting the Orediggers 21-8. Northeastern State then suffer its second loss of the year, this time 2-1 at the hands of Regis University. The RiverHawks again dominated the stat sheet, outshooting the Rangers 24-8, but just couldn't capitalize on their opportunities.
