UIC and Loyola defenses, UW-Green Bay striker climbing NCAA men's soccer statistical charts

Oct. 9, 2006

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Indianapolis, Ind. -- For most of the 2006 season, the University of Illinois at Chicago men's soccer team has grabbed headlines among its Horizon League brethren. UIC's rise to the national top ten has been well-chronicled, but the Flames may soon have to share the spotlight with its cross-town rival as Loyola University Chicago joins UIC near the top of the national statistical charts released by the NCAA on Monday (Oct. 9).

The charts, which include all matches played through Sunday (Oct. 8), have UIC as the nation's top-ranked defense as the Flames have allowed only four goals in 1,105 minutes for a 0.33 goals-against average. UIC has posted eight shutouts in 12 matches and also ranks third nationally with a .913 save percentage. Those numbers have enabled John Trask's crew to post a 9-1-2 record for a .833 winning percentage which is tied for eighth-best in the nation. UIC is 3-0-0 in League competition so far in 2006.

Loyola isn't far behind, however. The Ramblers have allowed only ten goals in 1,184 minutes for a 0.76 GAA to rank 25th in the nation. Brendan Eitz's squad boasts eight shutouts---including three in a row---for a .615 shutout percentage which rates ninth in the nation. Loyola has not allowed a goal in four League contests this year, holding loop opponents scoreless for more than 365 minutes in fashioning a 4-0-0 circuit mark and a 9-4-0 overall ledger.

The Ramblers share the top spot with the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, which has taken a different path to its 4-0-0 League record. The Phoenix rank fifth in the nation, averaging 2.62 goals per match on the way to a 10-3-0 overall ledger and a .769 winning percentage (19th-best in the nation). Wright State University also finds itself on that list, touting the 29th-best offense with 1.92 goals per contest.

On an individual basis, UW-Green Bay senior Joshua Okoampa has moved up to fourth place on the national scoring charts, posting 32 points (13 goals and six assists) in 13 matches for a rate of 2.46 points per outing. The 13 goals (1.00 per game) also put him in a tie for fifth on that list. WSU's Braden Fleak remains the nation's top-scoring freshman at 0.83 goals and 1.83 points per match, ranking 15th and 12th, respectively, among all Division I players.

UIC freshman Jovan Bubonja and Loyola senior Sean Bond represent a stellar one-two punch among netminders. Bubonja has allowed only four goals in 1,053 minutes (one in the last 604) to compile a 0.342 goals-against average which puts him third in the nation on that list and also with a .907 save percentage. Bond's 0.540 GAA (six goals allowed in 999 minutes) is tenth-best among Division I goalkeepers, while his .870 save percentage is eighth in the nation. He leads the League with seven shutouts, one more than Bubonja.

Wright State junior Tebias Mason and University of Detroit Mercy junior Sasha Boskovic have been among the most active netminders in the nation. Mason is 14th with a rate of 5.25 saves per match, putting him seven spots above Boskovic and his 4.92 average.

Winthrop University's Saidi Isaac leads all scorers with 2.67 points per contest, while University of Notre Dame standout Joseph Lapira has taken over the top spot on the goals list with 1.21 per outing (17 in 14 matches). Colgate University's David Cappuccio has yet to allow a goal in 630 minutes of work this season. On a team basis, the University of San Diego remains atop the national scoring charts with a 3.00 goals-per-match rate.

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Note: The national team and individual statistical leaders can be found in the PDF version of this release.