USI enters the poll at 19th
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – A red-hot University of Southern Indiana men's soccer team comes home this weekend on a program-best seven-game winning streak, ranked 19
th in the NSCAA Top 25 poll, and with the opportunity to play the NCAA Division II number one ranked team. USI (9-1-0, 7-1-0 GLVC) starts the home weekend by hosting William Jewell College (2-8-0, 2-6-0 GLVC) Friday at 7:30 p.m. before welcoming number one ranked and GLVC-leading Rockhurst University (9-0-1, 7-0-1 GLVC) Sunday at noon.
Live coverage of USI's two-match home weekend can be found on GoUSIEagles.com.
Week 6 Eagle Notes:
USI enters the top 25 poll; For the first time since 2003, the Eagles are ranked in the NSCAA Division II Top 25 poll, entering the poll at number 19. USI's highest national ranking was 17
th during the fall of 1990.
Eagles off to best start: The Screaming Eagles are off the best start in program history with a red-hot 9-1-0 overall mark in 2016, 7-1-0 in the GLVC. They surpassed the start of the 1982 squad, which was the only USI men's soccer team to advance to the NCAA Division II Tournament in 1982.
Winning Streak: USI extended its winning streak to seven matches last weekend, tying the team record set by the 1990 and 1991 teams.
Second consecutive road trip sweep: The Eagles swept last weekend's two-match road trip by defeating Saint Joseph's College, 2-0, and the University of Indianapolis, 1-0. The last time USI has won four-straight road matches was 1988.
Zehme named GLVC Defensive Player of the Week after sweep: Junior goalkeeper
Adam Zehme (Orland Park, Illinois) was named the GLVC Defensive Player of the Week after posting a pair of road shutouts last weekend. The junior goalkeeper made 10 saves in winning his career-best eighth and ninth matches of the year. Zehme has recorded shutouts in four of the last five USI matches and is one away from tying his career-high of five set last season.
Giving the Assist: Junior midfielder
Kyle Richardville (Vincennes, Indiana), freshman midfielder
Sean Rickey (Columbia, Illinois), and freshman midfielder
Adam Becker (Columbia, Illinois) have four assists apiece to lead the Eagles and tie for fifth in the GLVC.
Ramirez close to having best freshman year: Freshman forward
Eric Ramirez (Vincennes, Indiana) has eight goals through the first nine matches and is closing in on one of the best freshmen seasons in USI history. The eight goals match the most by a freshman since
Eric Schoenstein in 1988 when he scored nine during USI's run to the GLVC Tournament.
Among the leaders: Freshman forward
Eric Ramirez leads the GLVC and ranks 15
th in the NCAA Division II with eight goals. Junior midfielder
Kyle Richardville, freshman midfielder
Sean Rickey, and freshman midfielder
Adam Becker are tied for fifth in the conference in assists. As a team, USI is third nationally and leads the GLVC in assists.
This week's opponents in the GLVC: While the Eagles were picked to place eighth in the GLVC this season, Rockhurst was tabbed to place first and William Jewell was forecast for last in the league by the conference head coaches.
USI looks to stay on track versus William Jewell: The Eagles are looking to stay on track versus the Cardinals after going 1-0-1 the last two seasons. USI, which trails the all-time series to William Jewell, 3-1-1, posted a 2-2 double-overtime tie last year in Liberty, Missouri, and a 2-0 win in 2014 at Strassweg Field.
Eagles-Hawks could play for conference lead: USI and Rockhurst, which plays at Bellarmine Friday night before coming to visit Strassweg Field, could be playing for the conference lead Sunday at 2:30 p.m. The Eagles start the week a half-game behind the Hawks in the GLVC standings. USI has a lot of ground to make up in the all-time series against Rockhurst, entering Sunday's match-up trailing, 17-1-3. The Hawks won both meetings last season in Kansas City, winning the regular season match, 3-1, and the GLVC first round match, 1-0.
NSCAA DIVISION II TOP 25 Poll
Also receiving votes: Colorado Mesa University (14), Drury University (8), Notre Dame College (7),
University of California-San Diego (5), Urbana University (2), Franklin Pierce University (2)
