SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - UIU (1-5-4, 1-5-2 GLVC) recorded its fourth draw of the season after drawing 2-2 with Illinois Springfield (1-7-2, 1-4-2 GLVC) on Wednesday. The four draws surpass the Peacocks' total from 2023, when they recorded three ties. Forward Nahum Ghyslain Wellot Samba scored both of UIU's goals.
Upper Iowa trailed 2-0 until the 62nd minute, when Wellot Samba netted his first goal off an assist from midfielder Timur Nagy. Wellot Samba lined up 10 yards out from the goal and headed the ball into the upper right-corner of the net.
The Berlin, Germany native scored his second goal in the 74th minute. Following forward Jeremiah Goko's blocked shot by goalkeeper Kevin Kordel, Wellot Samba gathered the loose ball five yards from the net and struck it with his left foot into the far-right side of the goal.
UIS took a 1-0 lead three and a half minutes into the game. Defender Lennard Borg scored the first goal of the contest, off an assist from midfielder Mitch Olenickt. Forward Gentil Selemani added to the Prairie Stars' lead, netting a goal in the 59th minute off a pass from midfielder Leul Mehari.
Wellot Samba totaled two goals and five shots with four on goal. Forward Benjamin Wendel took three shots with two on goal. Midfielder Pedro Campanha Buccini had two shots, while forward Keaton Kobow and defender Carl Wilhelmsson both had a shot.
Nagy notched an assist. Goalkeeper Noah Nymark-Pedersen recorded two saves. Midfielder Matas Dumalakas, defender Rayan Lafon, defender Arnas Kurakinas, Nymark-Pedersen and Wilhelmsson each played 90 minutes.
Borgs and Selemani each scored a goal, and Olenick and Mehari each posted an assist. Forward Robin Lemke Bergseth took four shots with one on goal. Kardel totaled six saves.
The Peacocks posted 15 shots with eight on goal. The Prairie Stars recorded seven shots with four on goal. Upper Iowa led Springfield, 5-4, in corner kicks.
The game featured 49 fouls, 26 by UIU and 23 by UIS. The Peacocks received three yellow cards, while the Prairie Stars received four.
Upper Iowa squares up with Southwest Baptist (Mo.) (4-4-2, 1-4-2 GLVC) on Saturday, Oct. 3 at 2:30 p.m. SBU lost, 3-2, to Truman State (Mo.) (4-3-3, 3-2-3 GLVC) on Wednesday, Sept. 30.
