September 03, 2003
USI men’s soccer hopes to play Friday night at Missouri-Rolla
The University of Southern Indiana men’s soccer team hopes to finally kick off the 2003 season Friday, September 5, when it travels to the University of Missouri-Rolla for a 7 p.m. match.
The Screaming Eagles were thwarted in two attempts to open the season against McKendree College due to rain. The forecast for Friday evening in Rolla is for clear skies.
Despite an 0-2-0 exhibition season, the Eagles showed a lot of promise. The Eagles fell in the exhibition opener, 4-2, to Division I University of Evansville and lost 1-0 at home to the NAIA national finalist Mid-Continent College.
Leading the Eagles is Academic All-American and NSCAA Scholar Athlete Duncan Bray (Scotland). Bray, a senior midfielder, also was first team All-Region and All-GLVC after leading the team in scoring with 30 points on nine goals and a GLVC-best 12 assists. His 12 assists also tied for 16th nationally.
USI also returns one-half of the GLVC co-Freshmen of the Year award winners in sophomore goalkeeper Kyle Penick (Evansville, Indiana). Penick posted a 1.21 goals against average in 17 games and 1336:44 minutes between the posts. He also had five shutouts and had an 11-4 record as a freshman.
The Miners are 0-1-1 after playing the University of Indianapolis to a 3-3 tie on Sunday afternoon. UMR was led by junior forward E.J. Klapperich, senior forward Chris Shaw, and senior midfielder/forward Ryan Coates with one goal each against the Greyhounds.
Coates leads the Miners in scoring this fall with six points on three goals, two coming in the season opening loss to Saint Joseph’s College. The Pumas defeated the Miners 3-2 last Friday.
The Eagles will open the 2003 home schedule Sunday, September 7, when they host Spalding University for a 1 p.m. match at Strassweg Field.
Ray Simmons, USI Sports Information
Assistant Coach
