The Upper Iowa men's soccer team was unable to win their fifth consecutive GLIAC tilt as they fell by a score of 2-1 against conference-leading Davenport University. The Peacocks drop to 7-4 (4-4 GLIAC) on the year, while the Panthers improve to a 6-5 (6-2 GLIAC) record on the season.

The Peacocks came out with a strong offensive gameplan as they took four of the first five shots of the match and looked to be applying the best pressure of either offense, but UIU was unable to convert and get in positions to put any shots on goal through their first six shots. The UIU defense thwarted a trio of Panther pushes that included a shot on goal off a corner kick in the 14th minute that was saved by Osvaldo Alonzo, but Davenport struck first with a solo goal from Matt Whelan at the 19:43 mark to go up 1-0. 

Upper Iowa took four of the next six shots in the half, but the Peacocks were held without a shot on goal through the first 45 minutes despite getting numerous good looks deep in Davenport territory that resulted in blocked shots. UIU held a 10-6 advantage in shots at the halftime break, but DU maintained their 1-0 lead through the first period.

In the second half, the teams traded shots in quick succession as two UIU shots sandwiched a DU attempt from the 51st to 52nd minute, but neither team was able to put their attempts on target. Davenport capitalized on a mistake from Upper Iowa in the 61st minute when Whelan scored just seconds after a UIU goal kick to notch his second goal and put the Panthers up 2-0 at the 60:46 mark. Alonzo made a nice save on Whelan's first shot attempt following the miscue, but the Panther followed up his own shot and scored on the second attempt.

UIU was held without a shot for upwards of 20 minutes as DU looked to be in control, but the Peacocks manufactured their own offense by earning corner kicks in the 85th and 88th minutes. Upper Iowa was unsuccessful in converting their first attempt, but Tate Lofdahl played the second corner into the box where Italo Martins Soares flipped through the air and scored on an impressive bicycle kick at the 87:29 mark to cut the UIU deficit to 2-1. The Peacocks pushed hard as they attempted to score an equalizer in the final minute of the match, but DU held on to secure the 2-1 win.

PEACOCKS OF THE GAME... 

• Italo Martins Soares scored in his seventh straight match to give the Peacocks late life. The forward led the match with six shots and put the lone shot on goal for UIU while playing full time. 
• Tate Lofdahl dished out an assist on the late Upper Iowa goal.

STATS OF THE GAME...

• The Peacocks out-shot the Panthers 10-6 in the first half and 14-12 overall, but Davenport finished with a 3-1 advantage in shots on goal and a 2-1 advantage on the scoreboard.
• After Davenport earned a 3-1 advantage in corner kicks in the first period, Upper Iowa took two corners in the second half while allowing none.
• UIU was not whistled for any fouls while DU was called for nine, and the Panthers were issued three yellow cards compared to one for the Peacocks.

UP NEXT... The Peacocks will wrap up UIU's Hall of Fame Weekend with a match against Purdue University-Northwest on Sunday, Oct. 17 at 2:30 p.m. on Pattison Field.