EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Southern Indiana men's soccer team concludes its three-match road swing this weekend when it travels to Quincy University Friday and the University of Indianapolis Sunday. Kickoff at Quincy is 7:30 p.m. Friday in Quincy, Illinois, while the start time at UIndy is 1:30 p.m. Sunday in Indianapolis.
Coverage for USI in GLVC action can be found at GoUSIEagles.com.
Week 6 Eagle Notes:
USI takes over first with winning streak: The Screaming Eagles (7-1-1, 5-0-1 GLVC) have taken over first in the Great Lakes Valley Conference after winning their third and fourth matches in a row with the victories over the University of Illinois Springfield, 3-0, and McKendree University, 2-1. The Eagles also have won six of their last seven matches with the seventh being a tie versus Truman State University.
Close at the top: USI is on top of the GLVC with a slim one-game lead over UIndy, McKendree, and Maryville.
Eagles starting to be noticed: USI is starting to be noticed nationally, receiving votes for the United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division II Top 25 poll. The Eagles have not been ranked nationally since they were number 22 in 2016.
Rickey, Faas sweep Players of the Week: USI junior midfielder
Sean Rickey and sophomore goalkeeper
Justin Faas swept the GLVC weekly honors for men's soccer, taking the Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week awards. Rickey had six points last week on one goal and four assists to earn the offensive award. Faas, who made a career-high seven saves in the win over Illinois Springfield, posted a pair of wins and allowed just one goal in the two matches and 180 minutes of action to earn the defensive honor.
Unbeaten in the GLVC: The last time USI was unbeaten in the GLVC through four matches was 2003 when the Eagles started conference play with a 7-0-0 mark.
Rickey leading the offense: Junior midfielder
Sean Rickey leads the USI offense with 21 points on a team-high eight goals and five assists. Junior forward
Eric Ramirez is second with seven points on three goals and one assist.
Between the posts: Sophomore goalkeeper
Justin Faas leads the Eagles between the posts with a 7-1-1 overall record and three shutouts. He also has a 0.91 goals against average in 794 minutes.
Santoro in his 10th year: USI Head Coach
Mat Santoro has an 82-71-18 overall record at the helm. Santoro has guided the Eagles to four GLVC Tournament appearances and the NCAA II Tournament in 2016.
USI versus Quincy: The Hawks lead the all-time series with the Eagles, 17-6-2, dating back to 1981. USI has had the upper hand in the last five matches, going 3-1-1 and winning last fall's match-up, 2-1.
The Hawks in 2018: The Hawks are 4-5-1 overall and 3-2-1 in the GLVC after falling twice last weekend in the GLVC. Quincy lost to Bellarmine, 3-2, to snap a three-match winning streak and to UIndy, 2-1, last weekend.
USI vs. UIndy: The Eagles lead the Greyhounds in the all-time series, 21-15-0, since the creation of the USI men's soccer program in 1979. UIndy has had the upper hand the last five matches, going 4-0-1, and sweeping last year's meetings, 2-1 in overtime during the regular season and 1-0 in the GLVC Tournament.
The Greyhounds in 2018: UIndy, which hosts Maryville University on Friday before welcoming the Eagles, is 8-1-1 overall and 4-1-1 in the GLVC. The Greyhounds started the season with six-straight wins before a tie and a loss interrupted their season and winning the last two matches.
