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For Immediate ReleaseMen's Soccer -- Sept. 19, 2011
Eureka Men's Soccer Weekly Notebook: Sept. 19, 2011
PDF Version of Eureka Men's Soccer Weekly Notebook
THE WEEK AHEAD Following a week that included a pair of matches against unbeaten non-conference opponents, the Eureka College men’s soccer team will open its fifth annual St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference schedule this Saturday. The Red Devils will visit five-time SLIAC champion Fontbonne under the lights at Centene Stadium in the St. Louis suburb of Clayton, Mo. at 8 p.m.
SCOUTING FONTBONNE Traditionally one of the league’s top men’s soccer programs, Fontbonne enters the week with a 5-3-0 record.
The Griffins own early non-conference victories over Cal Lutheran, Rose-Hulman, LeTourneau, Millikin and Coe. They will host NAIA Culver Stockton on Tuesday before welcoming the Red Devils to their home pitch on Saturday night.
Sophomore Justin Williams leads the Griffins in scoring with three goals and two assists despite appearing in only four of Fontbonne’s first eight contests.
Junior goalkeeper Zach Will ranks among the league leaders with 23 saves (fourth) and a 1.17 goals-against average (fourth).
Former FU men’s soccer student-athlete Brian Hoener is currently in his 12th season as the head coach at Fontbonne. Hoener has led Fontbonne to three SLIAC regular season championships (2003, 2004, 2008), two SLIAC Tournament Championships (2004 & 2006) and three appearances in the NCAA Division III National Tournament (2003, 2004, 2006). Fontbonne’s 119 league victories rank third all-time behind Principia (129) and Webster (125).
Additionally, Hoener was chosen as the SLIAC Coach of the Year in 2003, 2004 and 2008. Hoener also works as Fontbonne’s Sports Information Director.
THE ALL-TIME SERIES Fontbonne owns a 3-0-1 all-time record against the Red Devils since Eureka joined the SLIAC prior to the 2007 season.
The Griffins have had little problems earning victories in the all-time series, posting consecutive 6-0 victories in 2007 and 2008 before the Red Devils closed the gap in a 4-0 loss in the 2009 meeting. The 2010 matchup between the two sides featured an entirely different result.
A WILD DRAW AT TRAISTER FIELD Eureka turned the historical tide against the Griffins in last season’s meeting at Traister Field, as it took a desperate 89th minute goal from Fontbonne to force a 1-1 draw on Oct. 2, 2010.
Aided by a stiff wind at their backs in the first half, the Red Devils claimed an early 1-0 lead when Joe Lehman’s free kick in the 11th minute beat FU’s Zach Will. Lehman’s goal was Eureka’s first against Fontbonne in 281-minutes, 12-seconds.
In the second half, Tyler Mumm and the Eureka defense withstood repeated, relentless waves of attack from the Griffins to protect the one-goal lead. Now with the wind advantage, the visitors held a 22-1 advantage in shots taken during the half and earned 16 corner kicks.
The Griffins finally broke through to tie the match on their 20th and final corner kick of regulation time in the 89th minute. With all 10 Fontbonne attackers crowding the box, Justin Williams found freshman midfielder Taylor Pratte at the far post, who directed the ball past Mumm amidst chaos for the 1-1 tie with just 1:19 remaining in regulation.
Both teams had solid opportunities to net the golden goal in extra time, but neither could team could convert and Eureka earned its first draw in program history.
SLIAC OPENERS When Eureka opens the 8-match SLIAC schedule on Saturday, the Red Devils will be looking for back-to-back league-opening victories for the first time in program history.
Last season’s 3-2 win over MacMurray on Sept. 29, 2010 was the Red Devils’ first all-time victory when opening the SLIAC schedule.
DUBUQUE SINKS RED DEVILS Eureka senior forward Cody Halstead scored a goal for the third consecutive contest to force a tie early in Wednesday night’s non-conference match at Dubuque, but the host Spartans answered with an offensive flurry to pull away for a 9-1 win over the Red Devils.
Halstead beat UD goalkeeper Nicholas Kasper with his third goal of the season at the 23:29 mark of the first half. Senior Derek Johnson and sophomore Kirby Wagner were credited with assists on the play.
Junior goalkeeper Nathan Mullins started for the second time this season and set a new career-best with 11 saves. He was relieved by freshman Stanley Murphy in the 80th minute, his first career appearance in goal.
The loss dropped Eureka to 0-4-0 all-time against the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and 0-2-0 in road games versus IIAC foes.
LAKE FOREST PULLS AWAY Clinging to a 1-0 advantage at halftime, Lake Forest put up five goals in the final 45 minutes of Saturday’s non-conference match to break away for a 6-0 victory over the Eureka at Traister Field.
Eureka junior Kyle Oyer led the Eureka offense with a career-high two shots on goal. Mumm made 15 stops, falling one short of his career-best. Lake Forest, who carried a perfect record into Saturday outshot the Red Devils for the match, 30-8.
WEEKLY NOTABLES Derek Johnson’s assist at Dubuque was his first of the season and sixth of his career.
Tyler Mumm needs one more save to tie Justin Horrer for second place on the all-time Eureka list.
Senior Evan Kingery attempted his first shot on goal of the season against Lake Forest last Saturday.
The assist from sophomore Kirby Wagner last Wednesday at Dubuque was the first of his career.
Sophomore Jonathan Glass made his first start of the season and sixth start of his career against Lake Forest on Saturday.
Freshman Austin Kennell attempted his first career shot on goal against Lake Forest last Saturday.
Lake Forest took 21 shots on goal last Saturday, the first time a Eureka opponent has put at least 20 shots on target since Greenville fired 20 on Oct. 14, 2008.
AROUND THE SLIAC Webster claimed the first conference victory of the year with a 2-1 win over Spalding last Saturday. The Gorloks scored twice in the final 30 minutes to rally for the road victory.
Blackburn earned non-conference victories over Robert Morris-Springfield and Lincoln Christian, while Greenville (Elmhurst), Principia (Grinnell) and Westminster (Coe) earned draws against tough non-conference opponents.
This Saturday marks the first date of 2011 where multiple league matches will take place. Eureka visits Fontbonne, Greenville hosts MacMurray and Westminster travels to Blackburn.
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For More Information Contact:
Bryan Moore
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