The University of Southern Indiana men’s soccer team opens its 2019 campaign with a two-match non-conference road slate in Michigan, beginning at Northern Michigan University Thursday in Marquette. The Screaming Eagles and the Wildcats are set to kick off at 4 p.m. (CDT) Thursday.
The road trip to Michigan concludes October 8 when USI visits Northwood University for an 11 a.m. (CDT) contest in Midland. Following the road trip, USI opens the 2019 home schedule and the defense of its 2018 GLVC regular season title by hosting McKendree University at Strassweg Field.
Coverage for USI’s 2019 campaign can be found at GoUSIEagles.com.
Week 1 Eagle Notes:
11 four-year players: The Eagles boast nine seniors this season, including eight four-year USI players. This group of seniors have combined for 438 matches (an average of 49 career games and an average of 16 games per season) in the Eagles’ uniform.
The offense returns in 2019: USI returns every player who scored last season, a total of 32 goals in 18 matches. Senior midfielder Sean Rickey led the way last year for the Eagles with 28 points on 11 goals and six assists and a team-high five game-winning goals. Senior forward Eric Ramirez followed with 18 points on eight goals and two assists and three game-winners.
Returning between the posts: USI junior goalkeeper Justin Faas returns between the posts for the Eagles in 2019 after posting 1.01 goals against average in 1610 minutes of action. He also had a career-high eight shutouts in 2018.
Santoro begins his 11th year: USI Head Coach Mat Santoro has an 88-74-18 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.
USI tabbed fourth in GLVC poll: The Eagles are predicted to place fourth in the GLVC preseason poll of the league’s coaches. USI won the GLVC regular season with an 11-1-1 conference record before falling in the first round of the GLVC Tournament.
USI received votes for the preseason poll:Â USI received votes for the first time in program history in the United Soccer Coaches preseason poll.
Return to the GLVC Tournament: USI is looking for its fifth-straight trip to the GLVC Tournament for the first time since 1979-84 seasons.
GLVC leader in championships: USI has 10 GLVC men’s soccer titles since the conference was created in 1979, the most by any program in the league. The Eagles won the conference championships in 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1988, 1989, 1990, and 1991.
Eagles in openers: USI is 21-17-2 all-time is season openers after beginning the last five seasons with victories.
USI versus Northern Michigan:Â USIÂ lost the first-ever match-up versus Northern Michigan last year at Strassweg Field, 2-0.
The Wildcats in 2018: Northern Michigan is coming off a 6-6-5 2018 campaign that saw them end the season in the quarterfinals of the GLIAC Tournament.
USI versus Northwood: USI won the only meeting with Northwood, 1-0, at Strassweg Field in 2008. Forward Dan Dormeier had the game-winning goal for the Eagles in the victory.
The Timberwolves in 2018: The Timberwolves of Northwood completed the 2018 season with a 9-9-1 overall record before concluding the season by falling in the GLIAC Tournament championship game.
