INDIANAPOLIS – A three-game slate on Saturday signals the start of conference play for five Horizon League men’s soccer teams.
The Horizon League portion of the schedule officially kicked off on Tuesday night, when Detroit (4-4, 1-0) took a 2-nil decision over host Green Bay (2-5-1, 0-1). The top-ranked Titans have both of the Horizon League’s leading scorers -- Adam Bedell (five goals) and Pat Lepera (four) -- and lead the league with 13 goals this season.
Detroit also plays in the first league game on Saturday, hosting Cleveland State (4-3) in a 3 p.m. EDT tilt. The Vikings’ 10 goals in 2012 are the third-most in the league, but CSU faces a challenge in Detroit keeper Nathan Steinwascher, who leads the Horizon League with 40 saves.
In the other net, Vikings goalie Brad Stuver has posted a league-low 0.84 goals against average and his 34 saves are the second-most in the conference. Stuver has also led CSU to a league-high three shutouts.
Green Bay, meanwhile, is extending the non-conference portion of its schedule this weekend, participating in the Oregon State Hensor/Zaher Nike Classic. The Phoenix face host Oregon State tonight and then play Gonzaga on Sunday.
In other Horizon League competition, Wright State (2-6-0) hosts UIC (2-4-1) at 7 p.m. EDT on Saturday. Injury-plagued Wright State was the preseason favorite in the Horizon League and while UIC was picked to finish fourth, the Flames did receive one first-place vote, boasting the defending Offensive Player of the Year in Ivan Stanisavljevic.
Also Saturday, reigning league champ Loyola (1-5-0) visits Valparaiso (1-5-1) at 8 p.m. EDT. The last time these teams faced off was in last season’s league semifinal, a contest that the Ramblers won 0-0 in penalty kicks on their way to the championship. Keepers Peter McKeown of Loyola and Valpo’s Kyle Zobeck are likely to square off, pitting the two Senior CLASS nominees at opposite ends of the field.
Friday, Sept. 21:
Green Bay at Oregon State - 8 p.m. EDT (non-conference)
Saturday, Sept. 22:
Cleveland State at Detroit - 3 p.m. EDT
UIC at Wright State - 7 p.m. EDT | live on the Horizon League Network
Loyola at Valparaiso - 8 p.m. EDT
Sunday, Sept. 23:
Green Bay vs. Gonzaga - 12 p.m. EDT (non-conference)
