The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletics Conference released their men's soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll for the 2021 fall season. Upper Iowa was picked eighth (eight teams) in the poll. Saginaw Valley State University (five first-place votes) was picked to finish first following a regular-season championship in spring of 2021, with the University of Wisconsin-Parkside (three first-place votes) picked to finish second.
The Upper Iowa University men's soccer program is coming off an eight-game season last spring following the cancelation of 2020's fall competitions. UIU's season ended in the first round of the GLIAC Championships with a 4-0 defeat to regular-season champion Saginaw Valley State University. Upper Iowa closed out the unique spring season winless including seven losses against GLIAC opponents. However, the Peacocks were a very competitive group with three one-goal losses. The Peacocks had a pair of tough 3-2 losses to Purdue University-Northwest on the road and Northwood University at Harms-Eischeid Stadium to begin their season. Down the stretch, the Peacocks dropped a 2-1 heartbreaker in overtime to Ashland University, the eventual GLIAC Tournament Champions.
The Peacocks return All-GLIAC Honorable Mention forward, Stan Cargill. Cargill led Upper Iowa in points (9), goals (4), shots (12), shot percentage (33.3%), and shots on goal (8). The striker from London, England scored four goals, which ranked fifth in the GLIAC last spring. Tate Lofdahl also returns for his senior season at forward after a strong spring where he notched four assists, the second most registered by any individual in the GLIAC. Osvaldo Alonzo and Alejo Prieto are competing for time as the final line of defense in front of the Peacock net. Alonzo split time in goal during the spring season, logging 147 minutes over five appearances in which he allowed four goals and made nine saves.
Also returning to the squad this season is Italo Martins Soares, a three-time, all-conference performer. The senior from Brasilia, Brazil earned a spot on the All-MIAA Second Team as a freshman and sophomore and grabbed All-GLIAC Honorable Mention honors as a junior in 2019 before remaining in Brazil last year. Martins Soares has started 47 of the 49 games he's played in scoring 15 goals and handing out 9 assists.
Head Coach Willie McGowan will rely on the already mentioned returners as well as Frider Blunck (1 goal, 2 assists), Alan Dunlop (1 goal, 1 assist) and Duarte Fonte (2 assists). McGowan and his assistant Liam Haycock worked hard in the off season to recruit talent to Fayette and will count on newcomers Brady Drozdowski, Carson Cajuste, Martin Voll, Paal Vistnes, Cain Smith and Marcus DeLeon to make immediate impacts.
Upper Iowa will open their 2021 campaign over Labor Day Weekend in Missouri. The Peacocks will take on the University of Missouri-St. Louis on Sept. 3 and then travel to Truman State University on Sept. 5. UIU will play their final non-conference match at home on Sept. 10 on Pattison Field against Drury University. The Peacocks will kick off their GLIAC slate on the road on Sept. 17 and 19 with games at Purdue University-Northwest and Davenport University.
