THIS WEEK IN PEACOCK MEN'S SOCCER... The Upper Iowa men's soccer team wraps up their three-week road trip with two games in St. Charles, Mo. The Peacocks match up with the Ouachita Baptist Tigers on Thursday evening before facing off with the Southern Nazarene Crimson Storm on Saturday afternoon. Thursday's game with OBU will be the first ever meeting between the two schools, while the Peacocks will take a 4-0 all-time record against Southern Nazarene. Saturday's match will the be the first as non-conference opponenets; SNU left the MIAA after the 2014 season.
THE SPLIT IN THE BAY AREA... Upper Iowa earned their first win of the 2016 season last Thursday in sunny Hayward, Calif., defeating the Pioneers of Cal State East Bay 3-2. Three different players scored for the Peacocks, and despite trailing in both shot attempts and corners earned, UIU made the most of its opportunities to pick up the win. Upper Iowa connected on two goals in a four-minute span in the first half to take the lead that they would never surrender. The Peacocks was unable to muster up any offense last Saturday against Humboldt State. The Lumberjacks defeated the Peacocks 1-0 behind a first-half goal. Despite UIU leading in shot attempts and corner kicks, the home team's defense held strong to preserve the shutout.
THREE'S COMPANY... Three different Peacocks have each scored one goal this season, despite UIU having scored four times. The opening match featured a goal that was credited as an own goal, meaning it deflected off the opponent and into the back of the net.
Blair Lyons,
Ryan Pinkerton, and
Aaron Morgan each scored for UIU against Cal State East Bay. Lyons and Pinkerton have each tallied seven shots this season. Pinkerton, a California native, led the team with six goals in 2015, and will look to get the Upper Iowa offense going this weekend in Missouri.
FINAL TUNE-UP BEFORE MIAA PLAY... Upper Iowa will play wrap up their six-game road trip this weekend before beginning MIAA play. The Peacocks enter their fifth season as a member of the MIAA, and for the first time, will begin the season as reigning champions. UIU finished 6-2 in league play last season.
ABOUT THE OPPONENTS...
vs. OUACHITA BAPTIST... The Tigers suffered their first loss of the season last Thursday night, falling 1-0 to Rogers State University. The goal was the first scored against the Tigers in five games, ending a scoreless streak that began in last season's GAC Championships. Ouachita's 2016 record now stands at 3-1. Goalkeeper Nelson Pacheco have notched 21 saves this season, and holds a .955 save percentage, tops in the GAC.
vs. SOUTHERN NAZARENE... Jared Rangel scored his second goal of the season for the Crimson Storm, but that was the lone goal of the night in a 3-1 loss to No. 9 Midwestern Sate in the home opener last week. SNU is looking for the first win of the season, sitting at 0-4. The Storm open the weekend against Lindenwood University on Sept. 15 before squaring off with Upper Iowa.
