THIS WEEKEND IN PEACOCK MEN'S SOCCER… The Peacocks head south as they are set to open their 2021 campaign with a pair of matches in Missouri. Upper Iowa takes the pitch against the University of Missouri - St. Louis in St. Louis, Mo. at 4 p.m. on Friday, Sep. 3 before heading to Kirskville, Mo. to face Truman State University at 12 p.m. on Sunday, Sep. 5.
LIVE COVERAGE OPTIONS… We've got you covered with several live options while the Peacocks are on the road. Live stats and webcasts produced by UMSL and Truman will be available through the links in this story and at UIUPeacocks.com/LIVE.
THE PEACOCK FLOCK… 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.
GLIAC PRESEASON COACHES' POLL… The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference men's soccer coaches selected Upper Iowa to finish eighth in 2021. 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.
TANGLING WITH THE TRITONS... The University of Missouri-St. Louis men's soccer team has been tabbed for a seventh place finish in the Great Lakes Valley Conference in the annual vote of the league head coaches. UMSL is coming off a 7-5-3 record during a COVID-pandemic shortened 2020-21 season in which they earned a spot in the GLVC Tournament for the first time since 2016. Under the direction of head coach Dan King, entering his 21
st season, the Tritons return a pair of All-GLVC performers in junior midfielder Tommy Naumann and junior back Nick Schreiber. The Peacocks last played against UMSL on Sep. 12, 2019 in a match that saw the Tritons claim a 3-0 victory over UIU in Fayette.
BESTING THE BULLDOGS... The Truman State University men's soccer team was picked to finish 14th in the GLVC 2021 Preseason Poll. The Bulldogs return most of last year's young team, with a group of seven seniors and five newcomers. The team will be led by a senior class that includes Zach Nay, Andy Brennan, Collin McDonough, Max Sengl. Dom DeProspero, Will Clayton, Mac Knudsen, and Felipe Campos. DeProspero led all returning players with 1044 minutes played in the spring, Brennan led the team with four goals and tied for the team lead with eight points. Nay started all 11 games he played in during the shortened season, Sengl made three starts in five games while registering two shots with one on goal, DeProspero and Clayton together anchored the back line with both starting every game they played in, Knudsen scored his second career goal and picked up two assists, Campos appeared in four games and scored at Drury last spring. The last matchup between UIU and Truman State came in Kirksville on Sep. 8, 2013 in a match that the Bulldogs won by a score of 4-1.
LOOKING AHEAD… Upper Iowa will play its home opener versus Drury University on Pattison Field in Fayette on Friday, Sep. 10 at 2:00 p.m. Fans can cheer on the Peacocks from the stands or follow along via webcast and live stats at UIUPeacocks.com/LIVE.
| Returning 2020 Team Leaders |
POINTS |
GOALS |
ASSISTS |
SHOTS |
SAVES |
| UPPER IOWA |
Cargill - 9 |
Cargill - 4 |
Lofdahl - 3 |
Cargill - 12 |
Alonzo - 9 |
| MISSOURI - ST. LOUIS |
Bass - 8 |
Bass/Meuse - 3 |
Naumann- 3 |
Naumann - 23 |
Hurt - 4 |
| TRUMAN STATE |
Brennan/Newton - 8 |
Brennan - 4 |
Three tied w/ 2 |
Brennan - 22 |
N/A |
