THIS WEEKEND IN PEACOCKS MEN'S SOCCER… Upper Iowa is set to host a pair of home games. On Friday, Oct.18 at 3 p.m., Upper Iowa will take on Northern Michigan University on Pattison Field. Upper Iowa will then take on the University of Wisconsin-Parkside on Sunday, Oct.20 at 2 p.m. If you would like to follow along via live stats and a webcast, visit UIUPeacocks.com/LIVE.

CONSISTENT COMPETITION … The Peacocks are 2-2 in team history against Northern Michigan. Friday's match will act as the tiebreaker between the two teams. Their most recent match resulted in a 2-0 loss on Sept. 22 at NMU. The game was highlighted by goals scored by junior forward Vegrad Ervall and freshman defender Francisco Espinoza. In the first half of play the two teams went head to head, the Wildcats were then able to pull away in the second half, scoring both of their goals within a 15 minute span.

The Peacocks most recent victory against the Wildcats occurred in September of 2017 on the road. The 2-1 win was highlighted by a game-winning overtime goal by Dylan Mientus. Northern Michigan finished fifth in the GLIAC during the 2018 season. The Wildcats posted a 6-6-5 record, 3-4-5 in GLIAC play. Senior midfielder, Callum Olpin is set to lead the Wildcats offense this year. He was Northern Michigan's leading distributor and second leading scorer during the 2018 season. So far this season the Wildcats are 3-8 (2-5 in GLIAC play). 

WHAT GOES UP MUST COME DOWN… The Peacocks are 2-3 in team history versus Wisconsin-Parkside. Their most recent match resulted in a 2-1 defeat. The Rangers were 1-3 headed into the match against UIU, their first GLIAC opponent of the year. Since then Wisconsin-Parkside has held a 6-1 record and are currently atop the GLIAC conference. The Peacocks hope to build off of the strong road performance they put on earlier this year and end the Rangers hot streak that they started. In the contest on Sept.20, Seth Russell shined for the Peacocks scoring the only goal of the match for Upper Iowa. Jack Mittelsteadt was the difference maker for the Rangers as he had a goal and an assist on the two scoring plays for Parkside. The two scores came in the last ten minutes of the match, taking the victory right from under the Peacocks.

The Peacocks most recent victory versus the Rangers came in September of 2017 at home. The 4-1 victory was highlighted by goals from Italo Martins Soares and Manny Aparicio. Wisconsin-Parkside placed second in the GLIAC during the 2018 season posting a 9-7-1 record, 7-4-1 in conference play. The Rangers earned a bye in the 2018 GLIAC tournament but lost 3-2 in the second round to Ashland University. Leki Prpa, the Rangers 2018 leading scorer is returning to Parkside for his junior season. Parkside's goalkeeper, Juan Gonzalez currently is second in the league in saves (47), 13 saves behind Upper Iowa goalkeeper Anthony Velez. The Rangers 2019 leading scorer, Mittelsteadt has the second most goals (5) and third most points (10) in the GLIAC.  

ON THE ROAD AGAIN … After a three week, five game home stand the Peacocks will head east for a pair of away matches. Upper Iowa will first face off against Ashland University on Oct. 25 at 6 p.m. in Ashland, Ohio. The Peacocks will then travel north to Grand Rapids, Mich. where they will have a rematch against the University of Davenport on Oct. 27 at 1 p.m. If you would like to follow along via webcast or live stats, visit UIUPeacocks.com/LIVE.

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