The University of Southern Indiana men’s soccer team arrives at the final stretch of the 2016 schedule looking to nail down a GLVC Tournament first round home match for the first time since 2003. USI (10-2-2, 8-2-2 GLVC) finishes its longest road trip of the year Friday at 7:30 p.m. when it visits McKendree University (3-6-3, 2-6-3) before coming home to host the University of Illinois Springfield (6-8-1, 5-6-1 GLVC) Sunday at 2:30 p.m. and Bellarmine University (5-7-3, 4-6-2 GLVC) October 26 at 7:30 p.m.

Live coverage of USI’s final three regular season matches of 2016, including live statistics and video, can be found on GoUSIEagles.com.

Week 8 Eagle Notes: 
USI drops out of the top 25 poll: The Eagles fell out of the NSCAA Division II Top 25 this week after two-straight weeks in the poll.

Eagles tied up last week: USI was all tied up last week in the GLVC, tying Drury University, 1-1, and Missouri University of Science & Technology, 2-2.The Eagles got their lone goal in the tie with Drury by freshman midfielder Sean Rickey (Columbia, Illinois) and rallied from a two-goal deficit versus Missouri S&T on goals by freshman midfielder Morgan Kelly (Shelbyville, Kentucky) and freshman forward Eric Ramirez (Vincennes, Indiana). The two ties clinched a spot in the GLVC Tournament for the Eagles.

GLVC Tournament seeding on the line in final three matches: The final three matches of the 2016 regular season will determine where the Eagles will be seeded in the upcoming GLVC Tournament. USI starts this week fourth in the GLVC, a game-and-a-half behind first place Rockhurst University; a half-game behind second place University of Missouri-St. Louis; percentage points behind Missouri S&T; and percentage points ahead of fifth place Drury. The top four regular season finishers earn the right to a first-round home match on October 30.

Tie for the team lead in scoring: Freshman forward Eric Ramirez (Vincennes, Indiana) and junior midfielder Kyle Richardville (Vincennes, Indiana) are tied for the team lead in points with 19 points each. Ramirez has 19 points on a team-high nine goals and one assist, while Richardville has 19 points on seven goals and five assists. Both also have a team-high three game-winning goals.

Ramirez ties best freshman year:  Freshman forward Eric Ramirez has nine goals through the first 14 matches tying the most by a freshman since Eric Schoenstein in 1988 when he scored nine during USI’s run to the GLVC title.

Between the posts: Junior goalkeeper Adam Zehme (Orland Park, Illinois) leads the Eagles between the posts with a 10-2-2 mark and a 0.96 goals against average. Zehme has a career-best 10 wins, 55 saves, and five shutouts this fall.

Among the leaders: Freshman forward Eric Ramirez is second in the GLVC and ranks 28^th in the NCAA Division II with nine goals. Junior midfielder Riley Belding (Columbus, Indiana) is third in the GLVC and 28^th nationally in assists. USI, as a team, is first in the GLVC in goals scored, 27^th nationally, and first in assists, fourth nationally.

This week’s opponents in the GLVC: While the Eagles were picked to place eighth in the GLVC this season, McKendree was tabbed to place 13^th; Illinois Springfield was slated for 12^th; and Bellarmine was forecast for sixth in the league by the conference head coaches.

USI looks to get back on track against McKendree: USI enters Friday’s match with McKendree looking to break its two-match losing streak to the Bearcats after dropping a 1-0 double-overtime decision last fall in Lebanon, Illinois. The Eagles lead the all-time series with the Bearcats, 5-4-1, while the series is knotted up at 2-2-0 since McKendree joined the league in 2012.

Eagles hope to build on last year’s win over Prairie Stars: USI leads the all-time series with Illinois Springfield, 7-4-1, after last year’s win over the Prairie Stars, 3-0, in Springfield, Illinois. Last fall’s win broke the Eagles’ two-match losing streak to the Stars. USI holds a 6-2-0 series advantage over Illinois Springfield since the Stars joined the GLVC in 2008.

USI rolling versus Bellarmine: USI leads the all-time series with Bellarmine, 23-13-2, and is 3-0-1 in the last four meetings, dating back to 2012. The Eagles earned their way into the 2015 GLVC Tournament with a 2-0 win over the Knights in Louisville, Kentucky, last fall.

The University of Southern Indiana women’s soccer team enters the home stretch of the 2016 campaign in search of a berth in the GLVC Tournament. The Screaming Eagles (8-7-0, 5-7-0 GLVC) have three matches remaining to earn a berth in the tournament, beginning their tournament search at McKendree University (11-4-0, 8-4-0 GLVC) Friday at 5 p.m. in Lebanon, Illinois.

After concluding their longest road trip of the season at McKendree, USI returns to the friendly surroundings of Strassweg Field to close out the 2016 regular season slate. The Eagles are scheduled to host the University of Illinois Springfield (7-8-0, 4-8-0 GLVC) Sunday at noon and Bellarmine University (10-1-3, 8-1-3 GLVC) October 26 at 5 p.m. Sunday versus Illinois Springfield also is Senior Day for the Eagles.

Live coverage of USI’s final three regular season matches, including live statistics and video, can be found on GoUSIEagles.com.

Week 8 Eagle Notes: 

In the GLVC: Post-season is on the line as USI enters the final three matches of the 2016 regular season. The Eagles, who start this week in ninth, are a half-game behind eighth place Lewis University and a game-and-a-half behind seventh-place Quincy University. USI hold the tie-breaker with Lewis, while Quincy holds the tie-breaker with the Eagles. The top eight teams in the GLVC qualify for the league’s post-season tournament that is set to begin on October 30.

Up and down last weekend: The Eagles were up and down last week, posting a 2-0 win at Drury University and a 3-1 loss at Missouri University of Science & Technology. Junior midfielder Carlie Scales(Evansville, Indiana) and junior forward Haley Rheinlander (Evansville, Indiana) posted goals in the win over Drury, while sophomore defender Olivia Wilde (Racine, Wisconsin) scored the Eagles lone goal in the loss at Missouri S&T.

Leading scorers: The Eagles have scored 26 goals through 15 matches this fall, flying by the 19 scored during entirety of the 2015 campaign. With her goal on Sunday, sophomore defender Olivia Wilde (Racine, Wisconsin) moved into a tie for the team lead in scoring with 12 points on a team-high five goals and two assists. Senior forward Gabriella Korte (St. Louis, Missouri) also has produced 12 points this season on four goals and a team-high four assists.

Game winners: Sophomore forward Ryley Hancock (Evansville, Indiana) has a team-best three game-winning goals. Senior forward Gabriella Korte and junior midfielder Carlie Scales follow with two game-winners each.

This week’s opponents in the GLVC: While the Eagles were picked to finish 13^th in the GLVC this fall, McKendree was forecast to finish ninth; Illinois Springfield was slated for 14^th; and Bellarmine was voted to repeat as conference champion by the league’s head coaches.

USI searching to get on track versus McKendree in GLVC action: The Eagles trail the all-time series with McKendreee, 6-5-1, and are winless in the last three matches with the Bearcats. The last time USI defeated McKendree was in 2012 when the Eagles posted a 3-0 win in Lebanon, Illinois.

USI looks to stay undefeated against Illinois Springfield: USI holds a 6-0-1 advantage in the all-time series with Illinois Springfield after defeating the Prairie Stars, 4-2, last year on the road.

Eagles eye first win over Knights since 2004. Bellarmine has control of the all-time series versus USI, 13-6-3, and is unbeaten against the Eagles in the last 12 matches, posting a 11-0-1 mark. Last year the Knight defeated the Eagles, 2-0, in Louisville, Kentucky.

University of Southern Indiana Volleyball returns to Great Lakes Valley Conference play Friday at 7 p.m. when it travels to Rensselaer, Indiana. The Screaming Eagles also visit the University of Indianapolis Saturday at noon (CDT).

USI begins the week with a 9-12 overall record and a 3-6 mark in GLVC play.

Live stats as well as GLVC Sports Network coverage for both matches can be accessed at GoUSIEagles.com.

USI Volleyball Notes (10/18/16)

GLVC standings. The Eagles are currently tied for fifth in the GLVC East Division, two games back of the University of Indianapolis and the University of Wisconsin-Parkside for third at the halfway mark of the conference season. USI already has the tie-breaker with UW-Parkside and could earn a tie-breaker over UIndy with a win Saturday.

Crossover wrap-up. USI went 1-2 at the Midwest Region Crossover last week in Aurora, Illinois. The Eagles lost in three sets to Northwood University before earning a three-set win over Alderson Broaddus University. USI concluded the weekend with a three-set loss to Tiffin University.

Farrell continues charge up rankings. Junior libero Shannon Farrell (Munster, Indiana) continues her push up USI’s all-time career digs record book. Farrell currently ranks sixth all-time with 1,175 career digs, just eight back of Danielle Peter (1996-99) for fifth all-time.

Zwissler climbs in record book. Senior middle/outside hitter Amy Zwissler (Bloomington, Indiana) moved into seventh all-time at USI with 248 career block assists. She ranks sixth all-time at USI since 2000 with 277 total blocks.

Eagles close out home slate Oct. 28-29. USI concludes its 2016 home schedule October 28-29 when it hosts Missouri S&T and Drury University. The Eagles will honor Zwissler and senior setter Quin Shoultz (Columbus, Indiana) October 29 as part of their Senior Day festivities. USI finishes the regular-season with five straight road contests.