THIS WEEK IN PEACOCK MEN'S SOCCER... The Upper Iowa men's soccer team will resume league play as they take their second trip through the MIAA. The Peacocks went 1-3 the first time against league opponents, dropping their last three conference matches. UIU will head south to Tahlequah, Okla. to take on the RiverHawks of Northeastern State University on Thursday night before traveling to Bolivar, Mo. to battle the Bearcats of Southwest Baptist University on Saturday afternoon. Upper Iowa dropped a 2-1 overtime decision to NSU earlier this season in Fayette, and trail the all-time series 6-2. The Peacocks have had success against SBU over the years, leading the all-time series 6-1-1, and shutout the Bearcats 2-0 at Pattison Field last month.
NON-CONFERENCE SPLIT... The Peacocks split a pair of non-conference matches last week against a pair of NAIA opponents. Upper Iowa defeated the Saints of Presentation College 4-2 in Fayette last Tuesday before dropping an overtime decision at Viterbo University, 3-2, on Thursday. UIU scored early and often in the win over Presentation, tallying a season-high four goals, including three in the first 24 minutes of play. Four different Peacocks scored in the match as Upper Iowa snapped a three-match losing streak with the home win. UIU then surrendered two scores in a two-minute span in the second half against the V-Hawks, and then allowed the game-winning goal in the extra frame to drop 3-2.
SPREADING THE LOVE... Despite Upper Iowa's scoring being down in 2016, they have been getting contributions from multiple players. Nine different Peacocks have scored a goal on the year, led by sophomore
Blair Lyons' six. Lyons ranks fourth in the MIAA in scoring, and seventh in assists (4). Senior
Ryan Pinkerton's three goals are second on the team, while
Aaron Morgan and
Fausto Ordenana are right behind with two scores apiece.
Chad Peterson,
Ryan Crabtree,
Ruairidh Crawford,
Hugo Alves, and
Alejandro Gota have each contributed with a goal as well.
ABOUT THE OPPONENTS...
vs. NORTHEASTERN STATE... The RiverHawks are coming off a 3-2 overtime defeat at Ouachita Baptist University on Monday afternoon, and are looking to improve on their 5-6 overall record (1-2 MIAA). Trevor Reed paces NSU with five goals on the year, and goalkeepers Jackson Biles and Ryan Davis have registered 54 combined saves on the season.
vs. SOUTHWEST BAPTIST... The Bearcats (0-11-2, 0-3 MIAA) have had a lot of time off since their last match on Oct. 8. SBU had its match with Northeastern State postponed due to weather and field conditions. Southwest Baptist tied Southern Nazarene last time out (1-1) and are led by Garrett Gibson, who has scored a pair of goals this season.
