Men's Soccer Weekly Release #3
Sept. 16, 2008
Complete Men's Soccer Release in PDF Format 
Friday, Sept. 19
Michigan at Detroit, 5 p.m.
Alabama A&M at Wright State, 5 p.m.
Butler vs. Robert Morris, 5:30 p.m. (at Dayton, Ohio)
Cleveland State at St. Bonaventure, 7 p.m.
Valparaiso at Missouri State, 8 p.m.
Princeton at UIC, 8 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 21
Butler vs. Marshall, 12 p.m. (at Dayton, Ohio)
Xavier at Detroit, 1 p.m.
IUPUI at Green Bay, 3:30 p.m.
SIU-Edwardsville at Loyola, 4 p.m.
Loyola Marymount at UIC, 4 p.m.
Western Michigan at Valparaiso, 5 p.m.
Cleveland State at Akron, 7 p.m.
Horizon League News and Notes
DOGGING THEIR OPPONENTS: Butler recorded its fourth shutout in five matches this season, but were held scoreless for the first time in 2008 and had to settle for a 0-0 tie against DePaul. The four shutouts already match the Bulldogs' entire total for 2007.
TOURNAMENT TESTED: Butler will attempt to defend its championship at the Dayton Flyer Courtyard By Marriott Invitational this weekend. The Bulldogs will play Robert Morris in the first round and then face Marshall in the second round. BU senior Frank Patano was named MVP of last year's Dayton Tournament, which the Bulldogs won with victories over Saint Francis and Sacramento State. The Bulldogs began this season with a championship at the Courtyard By Marriott East Classic, hosted by Louisville.
OFFENSIVE BEHAVIOR FOR CSU: After scoring just 11 goals in 18 matches a year ago, Cleveland State has improved its goal-scoring this year. Through five contests, the Vikings have scored six times with sophomore Stephen Baker leading the way with a pair of goals. Three other Vikings, Stephen Byer, Nenad Stojkovic and Mitch Boyer have each scored. Of the four goal-scorers this year, only Boyer scored a goal last year.
FOR STARTERS: Through five matches this season, only five players have started every contest with 18 different players starting at least once. The starters in every match include defenders Mitch Boyer and Josh Williams, midfielder John Wargo, forward Slava Ubiparipovic and goalkeeper Nick Harpel.
FLAMING HOT OFFENSE: The Flames' offense continued to display its explosive side, netting four goals for the second straight match and third time in the last four contests after a 4-1 victory over No. 19 Michigan Sept. 12.
UIC POLL POSITION: UIC has jumped into the national top 10 this week, according to this week's Soccer America poll. The Flames have also climbed to No.11 in the NSCAA/adidas poll and No. 14 in this week's College Soccer news poll. That NSCAA/adidas poll also has UIC ranked fourth in the Great Lakes region, trailing just Notre Dame, Northwestern and Akron.
BAGGIO LEADING THE WAY: Baggio Husidic, who leads the Horizon League with 10 points, has scored four goals in UIC's five matches and has at least one point in each contest this season.
LOYOLA GOES POLLING, TOO: The Ramblers are spending another week in the national rankings. Loyola is ranked No. 30 in College Soccer News and No. 34 in the NSCAA/adidas poll. Additionally, LU is charted eighth in the NSCAA/adidas Great Lakes Region poll.
DON'T FEEL SO BAD: Loyola's only loss this season was to No. 29 Drake, who has yet to allow a goal this season. Drake is one of just 14 unbeaten teams in the nation.
VALPARAISO TAKING DOWN THE BIG BOYS: Valparaiso's 1-0 win over Bradley last weekend was the Crusaders' first victory over a ranked foe since beating No. 22 Wisconsin, 2-1, in Valpo back on Sept. 13, 2002. The Crusaders are now 2-0-0 against 2007 NCAA Tournament teams, with wins over DePaul and Bradley.
WELCOME BACK KYLE: Valpo sophomore Kyle Gentile notched the match-winner in the 76th minute against the Braves. The contest was his first action of the season after he played in all 18 matches last season.
TOUGH SCHEDULE UP NORTH: Green Bay's schedule has proved more than formidable. Of Green Bay's first six non-conference foes, one is undefeated and two have only one loss. The total record of Green Bay's nine non-conference opponents as of Sept. 14 is 30-12-5.
PHOENIX HOMECOMING ALSO TOUGH: The Phoenix will entertain an unbeaten Western Illinois squad Saturday, Sept. 20 in the Country Inn & Suites Green Bay Nike Soccer Classic. The contest will serve as the program's annual Homecoming contest. The Phoenix will also take on IUPUI Sunday after the Jaguars take on UC Riverside.
TEAM TITLE KEYS UWM'S FAST START: Milwaukee won the team title at the Panther Invitational last weekend, marking the program's first championship at the tournament since the 2002 season. UWM's 1-0-1 weekend improves the squad to 2-2-2, three games ahead of last year's 0-6-0 start.
MORE ON FERNSTRUM: Milwaukee senior Grant Fernstrum recorded his 17th career shutout Sunday, pulling him within one of Jon Mroz (18) for third on the school's career list. It marks the first time he has posted back-to-back clean sheets since the two matches he played in the Panther Invitational in 2006.
FLEAK CLIMBING THE RAIDER RECORDS: Wright State junior Braden Fleak tallied a pair of goals last week to push his career total to 19. Fleak needs two more tallies to move into the career top 10 at Wright State. He tallied 13 his rookie season, three as a sophomore and he has three goals in 2008.
A FIRST FOR RITTER: WSU freshman goalkeeper Aaron Ritter picked up his first collegiate win in a 2-1 victory over IPFW Wednesday evening. Ritter allowed only one goal to help WSU to its first victory of the season.
