LIVE STATS: Adams State ||
Colorado ChristianTHIS WEEK IN PEACOCK MEN'S SOCCERThe Upper Iowa men's soccer team (2-0) heads west for the beginning of a six-game, three-week road trip for a pair of games in Colorado. The Peacocks play Adams State on Friday, Sept. 11 and Colorado Christian on Suday, Sept. 13, with both games in Lakewood, Colorado. UIU has not played Adams State since moving to NCAA Division II, but is 1-0-1 in two games against Colorado Christian. The Peacocks defeated CCU 2-1 in 2008 and the teams tied in 2011, 0-0.
LAST WEEK IN PEACOCK MEN'S SOCCERThe Peacocks won their first two games of the season, earning a 3-1 victory over UW-Parkside and a 1-0 win against Lewis University.
Rhys Williams,
Greg Marshall and
Blair Lyons scored against UWP, while the Peacocks won on an own goal against Lewis.
KEY NOTES TO CONSIDER
1 STRONG START: For the first time since 2009, the Peacocks won their opening game of the season and for the first time since 2008, UIU is undefeated after two games. Over that span, Upper Iowa was just 2-3-3 in season openers and just 0-2-3 since their last opening match win in 2009. Head coach
Jason Carlson is now 1-1-1 in season openers.
2 GOALS FOR GREG: In back-to-back seasons, senior midfielder
Greg Marshall has scored a goal in the season opener. In 2014 against MSU-Billings, Marshall helped propel the Peacocks to a 2-2 tie with a goal and an assist in the second half. This year, Marshall scored the game-winning goal in the 3-1 win over the Wisconsin Parkside.
3 CONFIDENT KEEPER: After earning All-MIAA Third Team honors as a freshman, goalkeeper
Connor Rortvedt had more confidence heading into the 2015 season. The Peacocks goalkeeper has made seven saves over his first two games, surrendering just one goal and earning his first shutout of 2015 against Lewis.
4 NEW SCORING: UIU returned 100% of its scoring from last season, but is finding scoring from some first year players. Freshman
Blair Lyons has made an impact at forward in the first two games of the season, leading the team in shots with five and scoring a goal in his first career game. Sophomore Gabriel Caetano has been a solid addition to the midfield, helping control the ball in through the middle, as well as getting into the offense by adding an assist against UW-Parkside.
ABOUT THE OPPONENTSvs. ADAMS STATE: The Grizzlies dropped their opening game of the season to Eastern New Mexico University, 3-0. Adams State was slated to finish ninth in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) Preseason Coaches' Poll after finishing the 2014 season 1-16. ASU returns a bulk of their starters from a season ago highlighted by sophomore goalie Austin Baumeister who was named RMAC Honorable Mention as a true freshman.
vs. COLORADO CHRISTIAN: The Cougars are 0-2 to start the 2015 season, falling 10-0 to Lynn University and 5-0 to Palm Beach Atlantic.
CCU was picked to finish eighth in the RMAC Preseason Coaches' Poll after a 5-14 campaign in 2014.
