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:Â
USI drops out of the top 25 poll:Â 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:Â 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 28th in the NCAA Division II with nine goals. Junior midfielder Riley Belding (Columbus, Indiana) is third in the GLVC and 28th nationally in assists. USI, as a team, is first in the GLVC in goals scored, 27th nationally, and first in assists, fourth nationally.
This week’s opponents in the GLVC:Â While the Eagles were picked to place eighth in the GLVC this season, McKendree was tabbed to place 13th; Illinois Springfield was slated for 12th; and Bellarmine was forecast for sixth in the league by the conference head coaches.
USI looks to get back on track against McKendree:Â 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:Â 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:Â 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.
