PREVIEW: Men's Soccer vs. No. 3 Trinity University (10/6) | Schreiner University (10/8)
MULTIMEDIA COVERAGE
(10/6 vs. Trinity)
(10/8 vs. Schreiner)
SOCIAL MEDIA
UD Twitter: @UDallasSports
UD Men's Soccer Twitter: @UDsoccer
UD Facebook: University of Dallas Athletics
UD Instagram: udallasathletics
THE LEAD
The University of Dallas men's Soccer team is home for a pair of matches on Friday and Sunday, as the second half of Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) play unfolds. Dallas starts with No. 3 Trinity University on Friday around 4 p.m. and then host Schreiner University on Sunday around 2 p.m.
The Crusaders (6-1-2, 5-0-2 SCAC) are off to their best start in conference play since joining the league in 2012. Dallas enters Friday's rematch having won five-of-six matches. The other contest was a tie the last time UD played at Crusader Field on September 24th against Austin College. The Crusaders completed the first half unblemished, but sit a point behind Trinity with 17 points due to a pair of draws.
Most recently, Dallas earned a couple road wins at Texas Lutheran University 1-0 and Southwestern University 2-1.
UD NOTABLES
- Nat Kajiwara (Southlake, Texas) scored in both road games last week and has scored in three-of-four matches to propel to the top of the UD scoring leaderboard with five. He is tied for third in the SCAC for goals.
- Chima Ogueri (Garland, Texas) has tallied four goals this season. He is second in that category and in points with nine.
- Sean Carlin (Puyallup, Wash.) is tied for first in fewest goals allowed (5) in the SCAC with Colorado College's Theo Hooker. The freshman also ranks second in the conference for save percentage (.844) and goals-against average (0.59).
- After only a trio of home matches to this juncture of the fall; the Crusaders conclude the regular season with six-of-eight in Irving. Crusade Field is also the site of the SCAC Tournament November 3rd-5th.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
- Kajiwara Goal at Texas Lutheran.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Dallas earned an upset on fourth-ranked (at the time) Trinity University 3-2 in overtime on the road in the first match that sparked the hot six-game span for UD.
- It was only the program's second ever win over the Tigers. The first was two years ago on Crusader Field, 1-0. Andrew Ciancone (Houston, Texas) netted that gamewinner in his freshman year to lift Dallas over the top ranked team in NCAA Division III during that matchup.
- The Crusaders prevailed earlier this year at Schreiner University, as Hunter Haugland (Bixby, Okla.) boasted the game-winning goal. Last year at UD these teams ended in a 1-1 final.
OPPONENT NOTABLES
(Trinity)
- The Tigers are 10-1 overall and 6-1 in conference. They have won five in a row since the last meeting between these squads.
- Trinity improved to third in the United Soccer Coaches Division III Poll.
- The top-5 ranked team won 4-1 and 2-1, respectively at Centenary College and Austin College last weekend. TU is on a lengthy six-match road trip over three weekends, with this stop at UD and Colorado College being the second of that stretch.
- Austin Michaelis leads the league and team in goals scored with eight. He has four assists (tied 2nd on team) to boast 20 points overall. Jacob Hallenberger and Christian Sakshaug follow in scoring with six and five goals.
- Daylon Gordon has a team-high five assists, while Neil Verwillow has contributed four to reflect all his points.
(Schreiner)
- The Mountaineers are 2-7-2 overall and 0-5-2 in the conference. Their past two road matches were 2-0 setbacks at Austin College and Centenary College.
- SU will play at Colorado College on Friday prior to wrapping up a six-game road stint at Dallas on Sunday.
- A trio of players have two goals apiece including: Antonio Cortes, Gregg Gutierrez, and Rodrigo Navarrete. Cortes leads the team with seven points thanks to three helpers.
- Brandon Anselmi has recorded 43 saves and a .729 save percentage through 875 minutes in the goalkeeper position.
UP NEXT
Dallas plays its final away matches this regular season with two at conference opponent sites. October 13th, the Crusaders are at Centenary College for an approximate 7 p.m. kickoff. On the 15th, the Crusaders are nearby in Sherman, Texas, for an approximate 2 p.m. start.