By: Zach Carlyle, Sports Communication Graduate Assistant
THIS WEEK IN PEACOCK MEN'S SOCCER... The Upper Iowa men's soccer team wraps up their six-game road trip this weekend as they take on a pair of MIAA opponents. The Peacocks head to Bolivar, Mo. to match up with the Bearcats of Southwest Baptist University on Friday night at 7:30 p.m., and then head to Tahlequah, Okla. to square off with the RiverHawks of Northeastern State University on Sunday afternoon at 12 p.m. UIU is coming off a loss on the road last week at Lindenwood to open the conference season.
THE SERIES... Upper Iowa trails the all-time series 6-3 against Northeastern State, after splitting both matchups last season. UIU dropped a 2-1 overtime decision to NSU in Fayette, but rebounded with a road win in October 2016, 2-0, to even the season series. The Peacocks have had success against Southwest Baptist over the years, leading the all-time series 7-1-1. UIU picked up a pair of shutouts against the Bearcats last season, winning 2-0 at Pattison Field before picking up a 1-0, double-overtime victory in Bolivar, Mo.
LIONS SHOOT PAST PEACOCKS... The Peacocks dropped their MIAA opener last Sunday in St. Charles, Mo. against the Lindenwood Lions. LU registered 22 shot attempts to just five for the visitors, and won by a final of 2-1. The home team scored both goals in the second half, and UIU managed to put together a goal with a minute left in the game.
Italo Martins Soares scored his second goal of the year in the 89th minute.
RECEIVING VOTES... Upper Iowa is currently receiving votes in the top 25 in the country, dropping out of the rankings in the fourth week of the national poll. The Peacocks (4-2, 0-1 MIAA) trial Fort Hays State (2-0 MIAA) and Lindenwood (1-0) in the conference standings early in the season. UIU's highest ranking came two weeks ago, when they were ranked 12th in the nation.
SECOND HALF... The Peacocks have been getting their offense going in the second halves of games this season. Upper Iowa has scored six of their 11 goals in the second half, and 33 of their 65 shot attempts have come in the final 45 minutes. UIU scored its lone goal against Lindenwood late in the second half, and will look to continue getting stronger as the game goes.
ABOUT THE OPPONENTS...
vs. SOUTHWEST BAPTIST... The Bearcats (0-6, 0-1 MIAA) are coming off a 7-0 defeat at the hands of Fort Hays State University, and are looking for their first win of 2017. Alec VanWormer and Daniel Santibanez are tied with the team lead with a goal apiece on the year. SBU is getting outshot 149-37, and outscored 25-2.
vs. NORTHEASTERN STATE... The RiverHawks (3-4, 0-1 MIAA) are coming off a 2-1 overtime loss to Fort Hays State, which snapped a three-game winning streak. Four players are tied at the top with two goals scored each, Joe Garcia, Aaron Ugbah, Jackson Padilla, and Nyasha Dube.
