Red Hot Eagles Go North For GLVC Showdowns
A red-hot University of Southern Indiana men’s soccer team goes back on the road this weekend in the Great Lakes Valley Conference looking to extend its five-match winning streak and the best start in program history. USI (7-1-0, 5-1-0 GLVC) is slated to visit Saint Joseph’s College (1-6-0, 1-4-0 GLVC) Friday at 7:30 p.m. and the University of Indianapolis (4-2-2, 2-2-2 GLVC) Sunday at 1:30 p.m. (CDT).
Live coverage of USI’s two-match road weekend, including live statistics and live video (Sunday’s match only), can be found on GoUSIEagles.com.
Week 5 Eagle Notes:Â
Eagles match best start:Â The Screaming Eagles are a red-hot 7-1-0 overall in 2016 and have tied the best start historically of 6-0-2 in 1982. USI made its only trip to the NCAA Division II Tournament in 1982.
Winning Streak:Â USI has won its last five matches, two matches short of tying the team record of seven set in 1990 and 1991.
Freshmen leading the way: Fifteen of USI’s 20 goals in 2016 have been produced by six freshmen. Freshman forward Eric Ramirez (Vincennes, Indiana) has jumped started the Eagles’ offense with six goals in his first seven collegiate matches, while freshman midfielder Sean Rickey (Columbia, Illinois) is second with four goals. Freshman midfielder Justin Brooks (Fishers, Indiana) is third with a pair of goals, while midfielder Adam Newman (Marion, Illinois), freshman defender Drew Albert (Eureka, Missouri), and freshman midfielder Morgan Kelly (Shelbyville, Kentucky) round out the freshmen goal scorers with one each.
Giving the Assist: Junior midfielder Kyle Richardville (Vincennes, Indiana) and freshman midfielder Sean Rickey (Columbia, Illinois) have four assists apiece to lead the Eagles and tie for third in the GLVC.
Ramirez close to having best freshman year:  Freshman forward Eric Ramirez has six goals through the first seven matches and is closing in on one of the best freshmen seasons in USI history. The six goals match the most by a freshman since Jeffrey McClure recorded six in 2008. The most by a freshman is nine by Eric Schoenstein in 1988 when USI won the GLVC Tournament.
Among the leaders: Freshman forward Eric Ramirez leads the GLVC and ranks 20th in the NCAA Division II with six goals. Junior midfielder Kyle Richardville and freshman midfielder Sean Rickey are second in the conference in assists, while ranking 24th nationally in total assists. As a team, USI is second nationally and leads the GLVC in assists.
Zehme between the posts: Junior goalkeeper Adam Zehme (Orland Park, Illinois) has won a career-high seven matches between the posts, while posting a 1.10 goals against average in 734:08 minutes of action. He ranks third in the GLVC with 36 saves.
This week’s opponents in the GLVC: While the Eagles were picked to place eighth in the GLVC this season, Saint Joseph’s was tabbed to place 10th and UIndy was forecast for second in the league by the head coaches.
USI has dominated all-time series with Saint Joseph’s:Â The Eagles have dominated the all-time series with the Pumas, leading 21-5-2. Saint Joseph’s took last year’s match, 2-1, after USI had gone 5-0-1 in the previous six matches.
Eagles look break losing streak with Greyhound:Â USI holds a commanding all-time series lead, 20-12-0, but has lost the last three matches with UIndy. The last time USI defeated UIndy was 2012 when it posted a 5-1 win on the road in Indianapolis.
