SPRINGFIELD, IL – The University of Illinois Springfield (UIS) men's soccer team venture to St. Louis, MO for Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) matchups with Maryville University and the University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL).

SETTING THE SCENE
UIS (3-3, 3-1) clashes with Maryville University (5-1, 3-1) on Friday at 2 p.m. and tangles with UMSL (3-2-1, 3-1) on Sunday at 2:30 p.m.

Five teams are involved in a second-place tie in the GLVC standings with UIS, Maryville and UMSL making up three of the teams.

WHAT'S HAPPENING LATELY
The Prairie Stars fought to a 1-0 victory over Drury University (3-3, 2-2) last Friday, behind a 61st minute goal from Naba Alzhyri. Missouri S&T (1-3, 2-3-1) rallied back to claim a 2-1 over UIS last Sunday. Alex Morais netted a goal for the Prairie Stars.

Maryville entered last week ranked No. 19 in the United Soccer Coaches (USC) NCAA Division II poll. The Saints fell to the University of Wisconsin-Parkside (1-3, 1-5) in a 2-1 overtime loss last Friday. Maryville responded by taking down Lewis University (3-3, 2-2) in the 109th minute with a 2-1 double-overtime win last Sunday.

The University of Indianapolis outlasted UMSL in a 3-2 overtime win last Friday. UMSL followed up with a 2-1 win over UW-Parkside last Sunday.

STARS OF NOTE
Mario Falsone and Rhys Wallace each lead the Prairie Stars with two goals apiece. Morais and Alzhryi have each contributed a goal for UIS. Geile has compiled two shutouts on the season and ranks fourth in the GLVC with a .781 save percentage.

A LOOK AT THE OPPONENTS
UIS earned a 2-0 victory over Maryville last season. Joergen Pettersen is tied for second in the conference with nine points and four goals, which leads the Saints in both categories. Helmut Florencia has notched three goals and is tied for first in the conference with two game-winning goals. Christi Kjaersgaard has recorded three shutouts and ranks third in the conference with a .789 save percentage. Pontus Gitselov has provided six points off two goals and two assists this season, while Rasmus Tauts and Bill Stamac have dished out two assists apiece. The Saints are currently receiving votes in the latest national poll.

UMSL fended off UIS in a 1-0 win last season. Pat Ries leads the conference in goals (6) and points (13) for the Tritons this season. Dom Barczewski and Oscar Gordillo make up parts of a second-place tie in the GLVC with three assists. Nick Harper has notched two goals and Jake Schmidt has put together two shutouts this season.

LOOKING AHEAD
UIS hosts McKendree University (2-3, 0-3) in a GVLC matchup next Friday at 5 p.m. at Kiwanis Stadium. The Prairie Stars battle the University of Southern Indiana (USI) (2-3, 0-3) next Sunday at 12 p.m. at Kiwanis Stadium.

UIS DIVISION II RECORD BOOK WATCH
Alzhyri ranks second among career leaders in assists (6). Jack Coombes is tied for third in career game-winning goals (3) and is one away from moving into a first-place tie. Geile tops the leaderboard in career shutouts (7) and is tied for second among single-season leaders with two shutouts. He needs one shutout to tie his single-season record from 2016.

HOW TO WATCH
Friday, Sept. 22: UIS at Maryville (Live Stats) (Live Video)

Sunday, Sept. 24: UIS at UMSL (Live Stats) (Live Video)