LIVE STATS: Southwest Baptist || Northeastern State
WEBCAST: Southwest Baptist

THIS WEEK IN PEACOCK MEN'S SOCCER

The Upper Iowa men's soccer team (5-0-1) finishes a six-game road trip and opens the conference season with a match against the Bearcats of Southwest Baptist on Thursday, Sept. 24, followed by a match against the Northeastern State RiverHawks on Saturday, Sept. 26.

LAST WEEK IN PEACOCK MEN'S SOCCER

UIU tied West Alabama Friday night, 0-0. Despite outshooting their opponent 21-8, the Peacocks could finish their opportunities and were held scoreless for the first time this year. Upper Iowa had eight shots on goal and forced the Tiger goalkeeper to make six saves before West Alabama put their first shot on net.

On Sunday, the Peacocks kept their unblemished season intact with a 2-1 victory over the Union Bulldogs in Jackson, Tennessee on Sunday afternoon. UIU rallied with two second half goals to pick up the win, including a game-winning penalty shot in the final two minutes.
KEY NOTES TO CONSIDER

1      RECORD START: The 5-0-1 start to the 2015 season is the best in program history since moving to NCAA Division II and is the best six-game stretch in Head Coach Jason Carlson's three-year tenure at UIU.  

2      RANKINGS RECAP: The National Soccer Coaches Association of America released its official rankings and the Peacocks were receiving votes in the national poll for the third consecutive week. UIU has continued to move up among the teams of receiving votes and is currently the top team outside the top 25. In the regional rankings, Upper Iowa was selected as the third best team in the central region behind fellow MIAA foes Fort Hays State and Lindenwood. Northeastern State, UIU's opponent on Saturday, is the No. 4 team in the region.

3      FEAR THE BEARD: Senior midfielder Greg Marshall continues to put the ball in the back of the net. The Sheffield, England native scored in the Peacock's 2-1 victory over Union University last Sunday and now has five goals in six games this season, leading the conference in goals scored and 27th in the country. He was honored as MIAA Soccer Athlete of the Week two weeks ago when he scored three goals over two games against Adams State and Colorado Christian.

4      GOLDEN GOALKEEPER: UIU Sophomore goalkeeper Connor Rortvedt, an All-MIAA Third Team honoree last season, has been among the nation's best in 2015. Rortvedt is ranked 11th nationally in goals against average (0.48) and eighth in save percentage (.900), leading the conference in both categories. 
 

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ABOUT THE OPPONENTS

vs. SOUTHWEST BAPTIST: The Bearcats are 0-6 to start the 2015 season, but three of those losses are by one goal and two of them have been in overtime. SBU has a new head coach this season after going 0-18 in 2014 and 0-17 in 2013.

vs. NORTHEASTERN STATE: The RiverHawks are 3-3 in their first six games this year, but are still receiving votes in the national polls after starting the season No. 21. NSU has dropped three of its last four games, all by one goal.