THIS WEEK IN PEACOCK MEN'S SOCCER... The Upper Iowa men's soccer team will take a break from the MIAA schedule this week as they take on a pair of non-conference opponents. The Peacocks will host the Saints of Presentation College on Tuesday afternoon at 1 p.m. before heading northeast to La Crosse, Wis. to take on the V-Hawks of Viterbo University on Thursday afternoon at 4 p.m. Both opponents this week reside in the North Star Athletic Association out of the NAIA. UIU is meeting Presentation for the first time on Tuesday, while Upper Iowa owns a 4-3 record all-time against Viterbo. The Peacocks defeated the V-Hawks last season in Fayette, 4-0. Tuesday's game against the Saints will be broadcast online on UIUTV and in eastern Iowa on KCRG TV 9.2.
COMEBACK FALLS SHORT IN DOUBLE OT... The Peacocks fought hard for 105 minutes last Friday night down in Hays, Kansas against the No. 16 Tigers of Fort Hays State University in a matchup of MIAA opponents. Trailling 1-0 with just seven minutes left on the clock, Upper Iowa continued to battle and found a way to score and tie the game in the 83rd minute. It took 15 extra minutes of overtime before FHSU scored the game-winning goal, sending UIU home with a tough 2-1 double overtime defeat. From the 70th minute to the 83rd minute, the Peacocks tallied four shot attempts. In the 83rd minute,
Ruairidh Crawford sent a pass to
Blair Lyons, who sent the ball to the back of the net to tie the match. It was the fourth goal of the year for Lyons, who only attempted the one shot on the night. In the 105th minute, Maurizio Costa scored on a penalty kick to win the game, and keep Fort Hays State undefeated in MIAA play.
Connor Rortvedt tallied 8 saves in goal, and dropped to 3-7 in goal for the Peacocks. For the game, the home team held a significant lead in shots (22-7), shots on goal (10-2), and corners earned (11-3).
ABOUT THE OPPONENTS...
vs. PRESENTATION COLLEGE... The Saints are coming off a 6-1 defeat at the hands of Waldorf University (Forest City, Iowa) and are looking for their fourth win of the season. Presentation, out of the NAIA and a member of the North Star Athletic Association, is currenty 3-10 on the season, and is led by Kieren Clark, who has scored three goals on the year.
vs. VITERBO UNIVERSITY... The V-Hawks are on a current four-match losing streak after dropping a 2-1 decision to Bellevue University on Saturday in their NSAA opener, and currently sits at 1-8 on the season. Viterbo, another NAIA school, is led by Sebastian Flores and Aaron Wagner, who have each tallied three scores on the year.
