THIS WEEK IN PEACOCK MEN'S SOCCER... The No. 12 Upper Iowa men's soccer team hits the road for the second time this season as they head up to Bismarck, N.D. for a pair of non-conference matchups. The Peacocks will play a neutral site game on Saturday, Sept. 16 against the Yellow Jackets of Montana State University Billings at 3 p.m. UIU will then stay through the weekend and play on Monday, Sept. 18 against the host University of Mary at the same site at 12 p.m. Both games will have a live stats option only. UIU and MSUB have met once before, back in 2014 in Rapid City, S.D., and it ended in a 2-2 tie. The Peacocks will square off with U-Mary for the second time, after topping the Marauders 5-1 on Senior Day 2016 in Fayette. UIU and U-Mary are members of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference in most of their other varsity sports, and are the only two schools in the NSIC with men's soccer programs.
 

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NINE DAYS AGO... Back on Thursday, Sept. 7, the Peacocks earned a hard-fought overtime win to kick off the road trip in Marquette, Mich. against Northern Michigan University. UIU's third win in a row to start 2017 was a 2-1 win with freshman Dylan Mientus scoring the game-winner in the extra period. Mientus took a pass from Carlos Giron and sent it through for his first career goal. It was the lone shot attempt of OT for UIU, but it was the most important one. NMU nearly doubled UIU in shot attempts, 15-8, including 8-5 in shots on goal, but it was not enough.

MOVIN' ON UP... Upper Iowa is currently ranked No. 12 in the country, moving up 10 spots from last week. The Peacocks (3-0) are off to a perfect start for the second time in the last three seasons, and picked up a win on the road in overtime last week. This ties the highest ranking in program history, when they were No. 12 on Sept. 29, 2015.

"D" UP... The Peacock defense has been the staple of the season so far in 2017. Upper Iowa has allowed just two goals in 40 shot attempts, good for just a .050 shooting percentage. The backline of defense has played a big role in that, as Logan Dahnert, Ryan Crabtree, Seth Russell, Cameron Bosacki, Fausto Ordenana, and many others are holding opponents to just 14 shots placed on goal. Goalkeeper Connor Rortvedt has benefited in the net as well, as the senior has totaled 12 saves on the year, including two big ones in overtime against Northern Michigan. UIU is being outshot 40-34 on the year, but have won all three matches.

HEADS UP SEVEN UP... UIU has tallied seven goals this season, and have seven assists to go along with it. The only unassisted goal this year came in the opener against Wisconsin-Parkside, but the Peacocks made up for it with a double-assist in the same game on a goal scored by Italo Martins Soares. Ruairidh Crawford and Russell teamed up for the assist in that opening-day win. The seven goals this season have been scored by six different players, with Crawford picking up two scores to lead the squad.
 

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ABOUT THE OPPONENTS...

vs. MONTANA STATE-BILLINGS... The Yellow Jackets (0-4) take on the University of Mary on Thursday evening before squaring off UIU on Saturday. MSUB averaged more than two goals per game during the 2016 season (40 goals in 18 games), but are looking to find their offensive firepower this season, scoring just three times through their first four games. Punching home MSUB's lone goal last weekend was senior Alexis Chavez, who picked up his first career score. Senior goalkeeper Tom Lohmann made his 2017 debut last week, and saw action in both games. The returning all-conference shot stopper was sidelined due to injury early in the year, but is on track to make a full return for the 'Jackets this weekend.

vs. U-MARY... The Marauders (1-2-1) will play games on their own campus in Bismarck for the first time since the current U-Mary men's soccer players were in preschool. U-Mary last played games on campus 17 years ago, during the 2000 season when current Head Coach Dave Cook was a freshman on the team. The team lost a 3-2 decision to Rocky Mountain College on Sunday, Sept. 10 and will look to bounce back this weekend.