The University of Southern Indiana men’s soccer team hopes to ride a new found momentum when it hits the road this week in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. The Screaming Eagles travel to Romeoville, Illinois, to visit Lewis University Friday at 7:30 p.m. before completing the road swing in Springfield, Illinois, to call on the University of Illinois Springfield Sunday at noon.
Links to coverage of the USI road trip, including live stats and video, is available on GoUSIEagles.com.
Week 5 Eagle Notes:Â
Eagles end homestand on high note:Â USI (3-4-0, 1-4-0 GLVC) got back with a homestand-ending win, 2-0, over the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. The victory broke a four-match losing streak in the conference, including a homestand-opening loss to the University of Indianapolis, 2-1, in overtime.
Rickey leading the offense: USI sophomore midfielder Sean Rickey (Columbia, Illinois) got the Eagles offense rolling this weekend, scoring the lone goal in the loss to UIndy and both goals in the win over UW-Parkside. Rickey has a team-high eight points and four goals this season for the Eagles.
Belding assisting the scorers:  Senior midfielder Riley Belding  (Columbus, Indiana) has assisted the Eagles’ goal scorers in 2017, recording an assist on a team-high four of USI 11 goals this season.
Moving up the ranks: USI senior goalkeeper Adam Zehme (Orland Park, Illinois) has moved into a tie for fourth all-time with his 13th career shutout after blanking UW-Parkside. Zehme also has moved into third all-time at USI in saves (150) earlier this season.
USI and Lewis tied in all-time series:Â Entering Friday night’s match, USI and Lewis have split the 45 previous meetings with one tie and 22 wins each. The Eagles have won the last three meetings, including last season, 3-0, at Strassweg Field.
USI holds the lead over Illinois Springfield in all-time series:Â USI holds an 8-4-1 all-time series lead over Illinois Springfield after posting a 3-1 victory last year at Strassweg Field. The Eagles also have won eight of the last 10 match-ups.
Santoro begins his ninth year: USI Head Coach Mat Santoro has a 67-67-16 overall record at the helm of the Eagles since 2009.
USI in GLVC poll: The Eagles, who were picked third in the GLVC preseason poll, are currently 12th in the conference standings. Illinois Springfield (4-3-1,4-1-1 GLVC), which was predicted to place 10th this year, is in third place, while Lewis (5-3-0, 4-2-0 GLVC), forecasted for 11th, is tied for fourth with three other squads.
