EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Southern Indiana men's soccer team begins a two-game road swing looking for answers and hopes to get on track after suffering through a 0-2-0 homestand last weekend. USI (2-3-1, 1-3-0 GLVC) kicks off the trip at 7:30 p.m. Friday when it visits Rockhurst University in Kansas City, Missouri, before concluding the road swing at 2:30 p.m. Sunday versus William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri.
Following the two-game road swing, the Eagles return to the friendly surroundings of Strassweg Field October 4 and October 6 when they play the University of Indianapolis and Saint Joseph's College respectively.
WEEK 4 EAGLE NOTES:
Week 3 for USI: The Eagles struggled during last week's homestand, going 0-2-0 with a 1-0 loss to Missouri University of Science & Technology and a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Drury University.
Offensive highlight of the week. Senior forward Rush Dugger (Hanson, Kentucky) scored USI's lone goal in the loss to Drury Sunday and was the Eagles' lone goal for the weekend. The goal was the first of the year for Dugger, who was assisted on the play by freshman forward Steve Sokol (Perth, Australia).
Scoring leaders. Junior forward Caleb Mathers (Clarkston, Michigan) continues to be USI's scoring leader this season with six points on three goals. Senior midfielder Corey Fundenberger (Lebanon, Indiana) follows with four points on two goals, both game-winners.
Neidlinger in goal. Despite a tough weekend between the posts, senior goalkeeper Jeffrey Neidlinger (Carmel, Indiana) is maintaining a sub-1.00 goals against average. Neidlinger has two shutouts and a 0.96 GAA in six matches (564 minutes).
Eagles vs. Rockhurst: USI needs to get on track versus Rockhurst, trailing the all-time series, 1-14-2. The Eagles posted their first victory over the Hawks during the regular season last fall at Strassweg Field, 3-2, but stumbled on the road to Rockhurst during the GLVC Tournament semifinals, 2-0.
Rockhurst in the GLVC. The Hawks (4-1-1, 3-0-1 GLVC) were picked to repeat as conference champions in 2013. Rockhurst started the year 3-0-1 before posting a double overtime tie at Bellarmine University, 2-2, and a win at McKendree University, 2-1, last weekend.
Eagles vs. William Jewell. The Eagles travel to William Jewell in search of their first victory over the Cardinals. William Jewell has won the first two meetings since joining the GLVC, defeating USI, 1-0, last year at Strassweg Field. The Eagles lost the inaugural meeting with the Cardinals in 2011, 6-2, in Liberty, Missouri.
William Jewell in the GLVC. The Cardinals (3-4-0, 1-3-0 GLVC), who have alternated wins and losses through the start of 2013, started this week's action with a 2-0, non-conference win over Southwest Baptist University and will play the University of Illinois Springfield Friday before welcoming the Eagles on Sunday. William Jewell started last week's 1-1-0 conference action with a 1-0 win at McKendree, but stumbled at Bellarmine, 3-2.
