LIVE STATS: Fort Hays State || Viterbo
WEBCAST: Fort Hays State || Viterbo

THIS WEEK IN PEACOCK MEN'S SOCCER

The Upper Iowa men's soccer team (7-1-1, 2-1 MIAA) has a chance to rebound from their first loss of the season with a pair of home games this week. The Peacocks open the week with a conference match against Fort Hays State on Thursday at 2 p.m. UIU is 0-4-1 all-time against the Tigers, but the two teams tied in their most recent meeting in Fayette last season. Upper Iowa then hosts Viterbo University on Sunday at 1 p.m. in a non-conference match. The Peacocks own a 3-3 record against the V-Hawks, winning the last matchup 4-0 in 2013.

LAST WEEK IN PEACOCK MEN'S SOCCER

In the loss Thursday, Upper Iowa (7-1-1, 2-1 MIAA) controlled the majority of the game as Lindenwood regularly kept 10 players behind the ball, giving the Peacocks plenty of space through the middle of the field. But twenty minutes into second half, the Lions capitalized on a counter-attack and scored the game's lone goal. UIU tried to push the ball forward late but Lindenwood continued to pack it in defensively and Upper Iowa couldn't break through.
 
KEY NOTES TO CONSIDER

1      ROUND ROBIN: The Peacocks play each team in the conference twice, once at home and once on the road, and UIU wraps up the first round of conference play with the matchup against Fort Hays State.  

2      NATIONALLY RANKED: The Peacocks men's soccer team is ranked in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Poll for the second straight week, dropping a pair of spots to No. 14. UIU ended a program-best eight game unbeaten streak to start the season with a 1-0 loss to Lindenwood on Thursday, Oct. 1, but the Peacocks remained the top team in the Central Region.

3      GAME-WINNING GOALS: UIU seniors Greg Marshall and Rhys Williams are tied for the conference-lead with two game-winning goals each. In 2014, Williams tied for the team-lead with Leandro Pena at three game-winners. Marshall leads the conference in goals per game at .833.
 

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ABOUT THE OPPONENTS

vs. FORT HAYS STATE: For the first time this season, Fort Hays State has been listed outside of the Top 25 of the NSCAA Division II Poll, released on Oct. 6. The Tigers had been in the rankings for five straight polls this year, preseason through Week 4, before falling into the collection of teams receiving votes. The Tigers, now 7-3 overall, dropped from the rankings after a loss to Northeastern State at home on Sunday.

vs. VITERBO: The V-Hawks are 5-7-1 this season and 0-2 in the NSAA. VU is just 1-4-1 on the road this season and are 0-2-1 in over the last two weeks.