THIS WEEK IN PEACOCK WOMEN'S SOCCER… The Peacocks get the ball rolling in their 2022 campaign with a pair of games at home. Upper Iowa takes on McKendree University Thursday, Aug. 25 at 6:00pm for their first competition on the new turf at Harms-Eischeid stadium. Their second contest is on Saturday, Aug. 27 against Rockhurst University at 1:30pm, following a neutral site match between Concordia St. Paul and McKendree University that begins at 11:00am. 
 
LIVE COVERAGE OPTIONS… Upper Iowa will offer several options for you to stay connected to women's soccer this week. Live stats and webcasts for all games will be available through the links at UIUPeacocks.com/Live and included with this story. The games will also stream live on the new NSIC Network app through Roku and Fire devices and Apple and Android TV. Search for "NSIC Network" to find the app on your relevant device. Locally, Thursday and Saturday's game will air live on KCRG-TV 9.2 and Eastern Iowa's CW 9.3. Digital game day programs can be found online at UIUPeacocks.com/Programs. 
 
NEW HEAD AT THE HELM… Upper Iowa brings in Head Coach Josh Davis for the 2022 season. Prior to this position, Davis spent a year and a half at Oklahoma Panhandle State, a NAIA institution in Goodwell, Oklahoma. He also dedicated his time at the division one level as an Associate Head Coach at the University of North Dakota (2018). Davis helped guide their women's soccer squad to a program best record (9-6-2) since making the switch to division one.
 
HUES OF THE PEACOCK… The Peacocks finished with an overall record of 8-9 and a mark of 6-9 in the Northern Sun Conference last season. The records are the program's best marks since going 11-7-1 (10-4-1 NSIC) in 2012. The six conference victories by the Peacocks are their best total since winning seven in 2016.
 
Davis expects for his crew to be competitive with each contender they face. From goalkeeper to forward on the UIU squad, he believes each position will compete and push one another. With senior leadership and talent in every position, expect to see impact and contributions from across the board. 
 
DYNAMIC DUO… This soccer squad returns Haley Ramberg and Leah Willenbring for their senior seasons. The two NSIC Players to Watch helped pace the team last season on the offensive and defensive end. Willenbring was an All-NSIC Second Team Selection in 2021. She recorded a team high of six assists, which tied for fifth-best in the NSIC. Ramberg scored four goals last season, which tied for a team-high. She holds a career total of nine goals (2018-21). The senior standout led the Peacocks last season with 34 shots taken, 12 of which were on goal. 
 
NSIC PRESEASON COACHES' POLL... The Upper Iowa women's soccer team was chosen fourteenth in the The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll. The five-time defending NSIC Tournament Champions of Minnesota State University, Mankato were picked to win the NSIC in the preseason coaches' poll. This marks the 10th time since re-joining the NSIC in 2008 that the Mavericks have been picked to win the league. Minnesota State received eight first place votes and tallied 217 points, ranking them ahead of the reigning NSIC Champions of Bemidji State, which tallied 210 points and received five first place votes. Augustana came in third with 199 points and the other three first place votes. 
 
MANAGING MCKENDREE… Mckendree University was chosen to finish second in the GLVC preseason poll. They have been titled conference champs the last four seasons and have made the NCAA division two postseason tournament the past five years. The Bearcats recorded a 12-3-4 (10-2-2 GLVC) record during the 2021 fall season. Mckendree returns First Team All-GLVC forward Anna Stiffler for her junior season. She scored eight times last fall and assisted on five goals for a total of 21 points, which tied for fourth-best the previous season.  
 
RAVENOUS FOR ROCKHURST… Rockhurst University was picked to finish ninth out of thirteen teams in the GLVC preseason poll. They finished last season with an overall 6-10-2 record and 5-7-2 in the GLVC. The Hawks return leading goal scorer Olivia Schwarzen. The sophomore tallied four goals and added one assist on the season. Rockhurts welcomes back Greta Seal, a redshirt junior and two-time All-GLVC player who had to sit out with a torn ACL last season but is now ready to take the field.  There will also be six seniors on the roster to magnify that leadership: Carter Holton, Olivia Van Belle, Kaylee Freihaut, Mallory Mumby, Lauren Cousins and Sydney Baker. 
 
FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD… Upper Iowa has a slew of away games over the next few weeks, beginning with a matchup at Truman State University on Friday, Sept. 2 at 3:00pm. The Peacocks begin conference play on Friday, Sept 9 when they travel to Marshall, Minn. to face Southwest Minnesota State University. Fans can follow along with live stats for either contest. Live video is available for the UIU versus TSU match.