Eagles come back home to Strassweg

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The University of Southern Indiana men’s soccer team returns to its home turf for the first time in two weeks when it hosts a pair of GLVC matches this weekend at Strassweg Field. The Screaming Eagles start their short two-match homestand Friday at 7:30 p.m. when they host the University of Illinois Springfield and concludes Sunday at 2:30 p.m. when Lewis University makes a visit to Strassweg Field.

Match coverage can be found on GoUSIEagles.com.

Week 7 Eagle Notes: 

USI ends tough road trip: The Screaming Eagles ended their four-match road trip 1-2-1 after going 0-1-1 in the second half of the trip last weekend. USI lost a heartbreaker on a last second goal by William Jewell College, 2-1, but bounced back to tie Rockhurst University in double overtime, 1-1.

Season leaders: USI is led in scoring by senior midfielder Sean Rickey and senior forward Eric Ramirez with eight points each on three goals and two assists. Five players are tied for the team-lead in assists with two each.

Career scoring leaders: USI senior midfielder Sean Rickey and senior forward Eric Ramirez are climbing up the Eagles’ all-time leader boards. Rickey is ninth all-time in points (66), goals scored (25), and assists (16), while Ramirez is 10th all-time in points (63) and eighth in goals scored (27).

Between the posts: Junior goalkeeper Justin Faas leads the Eagles between the posts with a 1.04 goals against average, has a 3-1-3 record, and posted a pair of shutouts. The Eagles are 0-4-0 with Faas in goal this year.

The Prairie Stars in 2019: The Prairie Stars of Illinois Springfield are 5-5-2 overall and 3-4-2 in the GLVC after going 2-1-1 in their recent four-match homestand. Last weekend, Illinois Springfield tied Bellarmine University, 1-1, and lost to the University of Indianapolis, 2-1.

USI versus Illinois Springfield: The Eagles hold the all-time series lead with Illinois Springfield, 10-4-1, and has won the last four meetings. USI took last season’s meeting at Strassweg Field, 3-0, on goals by junior defender Justin Raines, senior forward Eric Ramirez, and senior midfielder Sean Rickey.

The Flyers in 2019: The Flyers of Lewis, who visit McKendree University Friday before coming to see the Eagles, are 7-3-1 overall, 4-3-2 in the GLVC. The Flyers lost both of their matches last weekend and were 2-2-0 in a four-match homestand.

USI versus Lewis: The all-time series between USI and Lewis is tied 23-23-2 after the Eagles defeated the Flyers, 3-0, last fall in Romeoville, Illinois, on goals by senior midfielder Adam Newman, sophomore midfielder Drew Domalewski, and sophomore midfielder Ryan Nevins. USI has won three of the last five meetings versus the Flyers.

Santoro begins his 11th year: USI Head Coach Mat Santoro has a 91-79-21 overall record at the helm. Santoro has guided the Eagles to a pair of NCAA II Tournament appearances; the 2018 GLVC regular season crown, and five GLVC Tournament appearances during his tenure.