THIS WEEK IN PEACOCK MEN'S SOCCER... The Upper Iowa men's soccer will open up their MIAA and home schedule this weekend at Pattison Field in Fayette. The Peacocks will host the Bearcats of Southwest Baptist University on Friday afternoon before squaring off with the Northeastern State RiverHawks on Sunday morning at 11 a.m. Both matches will be available online, and Friday's game with SBU will be broadcast on KCRG TV 9.2. UIU is coming off a three-week, six-game road trip to begin the season, going 2-4 in those games. The Peacocks will look to have continued success against Southwest Baptist, holding a 6-1-1 all-time record against the Bearcats. Upper Iowa made program history with their first every victories over Northeastern State last season, a 1-0 win on the road in September, and a 3-1 win at home against the then-ranked No. 15 RiverHawks in October. Those wins broke a five-match losing streak to NSU, who leads the all-time series 5-2.
PEACOCKS WRAP UP ROAD TRIP... Upper Iowa split their final two matches of their three-week road trip to begin the season. The Peacocks dropped a 2-1, double-overtime decision to Ouachita Baptist last Thursday before posting their first shutout of 2016, 2-0, against Southern Nazarene last Saturday afternoon. UIU led for the majority of the match against OBU before the Tigers scored in the 82nd minute to tie it up 1-1. One minute into the second overtime period, Ouachita Baptist scored the game-winner to complete the comeback victory. Upper Iowa responded well two days later, dominating Southern Nazarene from the opening whistle. UIU controlled the ball, holding the advantage in shots (24-3), including a 12-1 edge in shots placed on goal, as well as an 11-4 lead in corners earned.
"ROR" LIKE A "LYON"... Junior goalkeeper
Connor Rortvedt and sophomore forward
Blair Lyons have been the leaders of the Peacocks through the first six games. Rortvedt has tallied 20 saves on the season in over 551 minutes in goal. He holds a save percentage of .667, and posted his first shutout of the season against Southern Nazarene. Combined with solid defense from the backline, the Verona, Wis. native earned his first shutout since Nov. 6, 2015 in the regular-season finale against #25 Fort Hays State. Lyons is second in the MIAA in total points (8), while his three goals rank fourth. The Glasgow, Scotland native has registered 17 shots, which is good for sixth in the league, and he has dished out a pair of assists this season as well. The two Peacocks will look to play a big part in UIU's success in MIAA action this season.
DEFENDING THE TITLE... 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 and claimed their first championship while making the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history. Head Coach
Jason Carlson became the first Upper Iowa men's soccer coach to earn MIAA Coach of the Year honors and Lyons was the first Peacock to win MIAA Freshman of the Year. Rortvedt along with
Hugo Alves,
Logan Dahnert and
Ryan Pinkerton return as All-MIAA First Team selections as well. The Peacocks outscored their MIAA opponents 14-8 last season, while posting two shutouts. UIU has been outscored in its first six games this season, 10-7, but will look to build off the shutout last Saturday in Missouri.
ABOUT THE OPPONENTS...
vs. SOUTHWEST BAPTIST... The Bearcats have started the 2016 season 0-7-1, tying Oklahoma Baptist last Saturday, 3-3, before losing to Maryville University on Tuesday afternoon. SBU's Garrett Gibson leads the team with two goals on the year.
vs. NORTHEASTERN STATE... The RiverHawks are riding a three-match winning streak going into the weekend, with back-to-back shutout victories over No. 9 Midwestern State, 1-0, and Oklahoma Baptist, 2-0. NSU is led by Trevor Reed, who has scored four of the team's five goals so far this season.
