THIS WEEK IN PEACOCK MEN'S SOCCER... The Upper Iowa men's soccer team kicks off the 2017 season at Pattison Field in Fayette with a pair of games against the University of Wisconsin-Parkside and Lewis University. The Peacocks open with the Rangers on Friday, Sept. 1 at 2 p.m., and then battle the Flyers on Sunday, Sept. 3. Both games will be available for live stats, and both games will be broadcast live on UIU TV and in eastern Iowa on KCRG TV 9.3. The games are available on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and Android TV.
REVENGE ON THEIR MINDS... UIU will look to avenge last season's losses to these two programs, but will look for success on their home field. The Peacocks topped UWP in 2015 at home, 3-1, then defeated Lewis, 1-0, a few days later. The two wins were the first for UIU against the two schools since moving up to NCAA Division II. Last year was a different story on the road. Upper Iowa lost, 2-1, in Kenosha, Wis. to open the season, and then dropped a 3-0 decision in Romeoville, Ill. two days later.
PRE-SEASON POLL... Upper Iowa was picked to finish fourth in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association Preseason Coaches' Poll. The team, under the direction of first-year Head Coach
Willie McGowan, returns four All-MIAA performers from last year's campaign including second-teamers
Logan Dahnert (D),
Connor Rortvedt (GK),
Fausto Ordenana (MF) and honorable mention honoree
Seth Russell (MF). The team closed the 2016 season on a high-note with four wins in their final five matches and picked up big MIAA wins over Northeastern State and an upset of #21 Fort Hays State at home during the season. The team finished the year with an 8-9 record overall and a 4-4 mark in the MIAA to place third after graduating ten seniors from the 2015 MIAA Championship team.
DEFENSE IS KEY... The Peacocks posted three shutouts a season ago, and added two more games allowing just one goal or less. Defense was a staple two seasons ago during the MIAA Championship run, and Upper Iowa will look to get back to that this season. Rortvedt tallied 75 saves last season, and his backline will look to continue their success.
ABOUT THE OPPONENTS...
vs. WISCONSIN-PARKSIDE... The Rangers finished 6-8-3 in 2016, including 4-8-3 in the GLVC. Leki Prpa led Wisconsin-Parkside a season ago, scoring six goals on the year. Nate Kitchell is a returner in goal, playing in 10 games making 9 starts and tallying 35 saves.
vs. LEWIS... The Flyers finished 6-11 in 2016, and 5-10 in the GLVC. Lewis played in many low scoring games a season ago, and was only outscored 26-25 all season. The Flyers return five seniors from last year's squad.
