SPRINGFIELD, IL – The University of Illinois Springfield (UIS) men's soccer team shoot to gain position in the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) standings in its two road conference matches this weekend.
 
SETTING THE SCENE
UIS (5-4-1, 5-2-1) challenges Bellarmine University (5-4, 3-4) on Friday at 6:30 p.m. (ET) in Louisville, KY. The Prairie Stars invade the University of Indianapolis (6-2-1, 5-1-1) on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. (ET) in Indianapolis, IN to close out the weekend.
 
WHAT'S HAPPENING LATELY
UIS went 1-1 in conference play last week. The Prairie Stars took down McKendree University (2-7, 0-7) with a 2-0 victory last Friday. Naba Alzhyri and Khalid Dhalla each contributed goals. During Sunday's match with the University of Southern Indiana (USI) (4-5, 2-5), Fernando Sanz de Galdeano redirected a pass in the 89th minute to even the score at 1-all. The Screaming Eagles rebounded a shot off the post and scored with 20 seconds left in the first overtime to earn a 2-1 win.
 
Bellarmine took two conference losses last week. The University of Wisconsin-Parkside (3-6-1, 3-4-1) put together a 2-1 win over the Knights last Friday. Lewis University (7-3, 6-2) handed Bellarmine a 1-0 loss last Sunday. UW-Parkside fought to a 1-1 draw with Indianapolis last Sunday.
 
STARS OF NOTE
Mario Falsone and Alzhyri leads UIS with three goals apiece. Alzhyri has contributed three game-winning goals for the Prairie Stars this season. Tommy Geile is tied for second in the GLVC with an .818 save percentage. Rhys Wallace has notched five points off two goals and an assist while Josh Moore had dished out two assists.
 
A LOOK AT THE OPPONENTS
The Prairie Stars and the Knights fought to a defensive draw last season. Joe Workman and Callum Southern have each contributed three goals this season. Mitch Lammert is tied for fifth place among GLVC leaders with three assists. Greg Fischer has also provided two assists.
 
Indianapolis captured a 2-1 win over UIS last season. The Greyhounds are led by James Jenkins, who among GLVC leaders is ranked second in points (13), tied for second in goals (5) and tied for fifth in assists (3). Javier Steinwascher has found the back of the net four times this season, which is tied for seventh in the conference. Benjamin Sierra is tied for fifth in the GLVC with three assists.
 
KEY DECISIONS
The Prairie Stars earned critical wins early in the season, taking down Drury University (5-4, 4-3) in a 1-0 decision and Maryville University (8-2, 6-2) with a 2-0 win. Missouri S&T (5-4-1, 4-4) collected a 2-1 comeback win over UIS and the University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL) (4-4-2, 4-3-1) fought to a 1-1 draw with the Prairie Stars. UIS currently holds fifth in the conference standings.
 
Indianapolis asserted second place in the conference standings with the help of a 3-1 win over Missouri S&T, a 3-2 victory over UMSL and a 2-1 win over USI. The Greyhounds suffered their only conference loss of the season when Drury claimed a 3-2 victory over the Greyhounds.
 
Maryville rolled to a 5-0 win over Bellarmine to start the conference season. The Knights were able to pull out a 3-1 victory over Missouri S&T and a 2-1 win over USI. Bellarmine currently sits in 11th in the conference.
 
LOOKING AHEAD
UIS invades UW-Parkside for a conference matchup next Friday at 2:30 p.m. in Somers, WI. The Prairie Stars return home to wrap up the conference weekend by battling Lewis next Sunday at 2:30 p.m. at Kiwanis Stadium.
 
UIS DIVISION II RECORD BOOK WATCH
Geile has eclipsed the school records for career shutouts (9) and shutouts in a season (4). Falsone is tied for fifth in career goals (8) and career points (18). Jack Coombes and Alzhyri each make up parts of a third-place tie with three career game-winning goals. Alzhyri is also tied for first in single-season game-winning goals (3) and tied for second in career assists (6).
 
HOW TO WATCH
Friday Oct. 6: UIS at Bellarmine (Live Stats) (Live Video)
Sunday Oct. 8: UIS at Indianapolis (Live Stats) (Live Video)