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Eric Mason/UCCS

PREVIEW | Men's Soccer Travels up the Interstate to Take on MSU Denver and CCU

10/23/2019 9:50:00 AM

By: Jake Wise - Athletic Communications Graduate Assistant
This Week's Games
  • The University of Colorado Colorado Springs men's soccer will be on the road this week.
  • On Friday, October 25, UCCS will be in Denver, Colo. taking on Metropolitan State University – Denver (MSU Denver) at 3 p.m.
  • On Sunday, October 27, UCCS will be in Lakewood, Colo. facing off against Colorado Christian University (CCU) at 1 p.m.
Game Coverage Last Time Out
  • UCCS swept the two-game series against Adams State University (ASU) and Colorado State University – Pueblo (CSUP) last weekend, the first time they have accomplished that this season. The Mountain Lions are now 5-7-1 overall and 4-6-0 in the RMAC.
  • On Friday, it was a slow start for UCCS followed by a surge in the second half as they went on to score three goals in five minutes to take home the victory 3-1.
  • After a scoreless first half, ASU broke the scoreless tie with a goal in the 55th minute. Unfortunately for ASU, they had a player receive a red card and were forced to play the rest of the game a man down.
  • UCCS took advantage of the situation quickly as Jack Mills tied the game in the 78th minute off a double assist from Alex VonHolle and Liam McGuire. Not one minute later, Igor O'Rear rifled a shot to the back of the net, assists to Sam Bonano and McGuire, to give UCCS the 2-1 lead. Two minutes after that, VonHolle gave UCCS a 3-1 lead off McGuire's third assist of the game.
  • UCCS outshot ASU 33-7 in the game, including 17-4 in shots on goal on their way to the 3-1 win.
  • Sunday was marred by extremely windy conditions, but both teams managed to push through the wind and play a good game.
  • Despite the less than ideal conditions, UCCS was able to score four goals in the game, the most in a single game for them all year.
  • After ending the first half down 1-0, Adam Baldwin and Mario Mandel scored two goals in the first three minutes of the second half to give UCCS a 2-1 lead, assists to VonHolle and Samuel Gomez respectively.
  • Later, Kolby Raineri got behind the defense and put a great move on the keeper for UCCS' third goal of the game. Finally, Mandel found the net for his second goal of the game in the 75th minute to finish the Grizzlies off 4-1.
RMAC Record/Standings
  • After sweeping ASU and CSUP, UCCS now has a 5-7-1 overall record and a 4-6-0 record in the RMAC. Those numbers keep them in ninth place in the RMAC, now only one point back of MSU Denver for the eighth position in the RMAC.
The Series
  • Against MSU Denver, UCCS has an all-time record of 13-41-5. However, the Mountain Lions have gotten the better of MSU Denver in recent years as they have a 4-1-1 record in the six most recent matchups, including a 2-0 win in the most recent matchup.
  • Against CCU, UCCS has a dominant record of 45-5-3. The Mountain Lions are carrying a 22 game win streak into this matchup, including a 6-0 shutout in the most recent matchup between the teams.
Scouting the Opponent
  • MSU Denver currently has a record of 6-7-1 this season, including a 4-5-1 record in the RMAC. Offensively, the Roadrunners have scored 24 goals on 144 shots (66 on goal) and allowed 20 goals this season.
  • The Roadrunners also have 19 assists, 71 team saves, 59 corner kicks and a shots on goal percentage of 45.8 percent.
  • Individually, Benjamin Brill leads the team in goals with four. Yannick Schad and Jaime Gutierrez rank first and second on the team in points (12 and 11 respectively) thanks to three goals and a team high six assists for Schad, while Gutierrez has three goals and five assists.
  • Goalkeeper Alessandro Gentile has played the majority of the season in goal for MSU Denver and has accumulated 61 saves and a save percentage of 77 percent.
  • CCU has struggled this season as they own an overall record of 1-12-0, including a 1-9-0 record in the RMAC. Offensively, CCU has scored only seven goals on 79 shots (38 on goal) this season, while allowing 38 goals.
  • The Cougars have five assists, 37 corner kicks, 75 team saves and a shots on goal percentage of 50 percent this year.
  • Individually, Liam Lakey leads the team in goals and points with three and six respectively. Zach Mercier is second on the team in points with five (two goals, one assist) and Dmitri Fabro ranks third on the team in points with four thanks to one goal and a team high two assists.
  • Goalkeeper Max Collingwood has spent most of the season in net for CCU and has racked up 65 saves and a save percentage of 70 percent.
Hot Takes
  • Six different Mountain Lions found the net over the weekend, with four of those six players scoring their first goals of the season. Of those four, three scored the first goals of their UCCS careers.
  • Freshman Kolby Raineri scored his first career goal on Sunday after putting a great move on the keeper. He now has three points on the season.
  • Sophomore Igor O'Rear scored his career goal in game winning fashion against ASU on Friday as his goal made the score 2-1.
  • Redshirt sophomore Adam Baldwin was on the attack over the weekend as he registered a team high 11 shots and six shots on goal, including a career high nine shots and five on goal against ASU.
  • Baldwin's aggression paid off on Sunday as he scored his first ever goal in a UCCS uniform to tie the game against CSUP.
  • Senior Mario Mandel scored his first goals of the season against CSUP, including the game winning goal that put the Mountain Lions up 2-1. His second goal came as icing on the cake in the game to give UCCS a 4-1 victory.
  • Senior Jack Mills scored his third goal of the season on Friday to tie the game against ASU.
  • Alex VonHolle recorded a goal and two assists over the weekend, bringing his season totals to six and seven respectively. That also gives him 19 points this year, which leads the team.
  • VonHolle also took nine shots and landed six on frame over weekend, which means he now ranks fourth all-time in UCCS history in shots taken at 165. He also extends his career assists record to 21.
  • Redshirt freshman Liam McGuire recorded a career high three assists on Friday against ASU, bringing his season total to five which is second on the team.
  • Junior Sam Bonano and senior Samuel Gomez also had assists over the weekend. The assist for Bonano marks his first of the season giving him three points, while the assist for Gomez marks his second of the year and gives him four points.
  • Senior keeper Scott Jensen recorded five saves in the two games last weekend, giving him 38 total this season.
Award Winners
  • Senior Mario Mandel was named the RMAC Offensive Player of the Week for his great performance last weekend. The senior netted two goals against CSUP on Sunday to lead the Mountain Lions to a 4-1 victory. Mandel's two goal performance (2-for-2 shots on goal) marks the first of his career at UCCS.
Weather
  • The forecast for Denver, Colo. on Friday, October 25 shows clear skies and a high of 57 degrees. Wind is only expected to gust up to seven miles per hour.
  • On Sunday, October 27, the forecast shows bad weather as snow showers are expected with only a high of 38 degrees. For any schedule changes related to weather, stay tuned to gomountainlions.com.
RMAC Leaders
  • UCCS has four players in the top-10 of the various RMAC statistical categories.
  • Alex VonHolle ranks first in the RMAC in shots (48, tied), shots per game (3.69), shots on goal (24, tied), shots on goal per game (1.85), assists (seven, tied), assists per game (.538) and points (19). He also ranks second in points per game (1.46) and third in goals (six, tied) and goals per game (.462, tied).
  • Liam McGuire ranks sixth in the RMAC in assists (five) and assists per game (.417).
  • Mario Mandel ranks 10th in the RMAC in game winning goals with one.
  • Keeper Scott Jensen ranks eighth in the RMAC in saves per game (3.45), ninth in goals allowed (23) and goals against average (2.032) and 10th in saves with 38.
UCCS Under Head Coach Brian Miller
  • UCCS is now 15-13-4 under coach Miller. The Mountain Lions will look to improve that record this weekend with a pair of matchups that have been favorable in recent years.
Upcoming Games
  • Next weekend, UCCS will play one game at home and one game on the road for the final weekend of the regular season.
  • On Friday, November 1, UCCS will play host to Regis University for Senior Night. The game is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m.
  • On Sunday, November 3, UCCS will be in Rapid City, S.D. taking on South Dakota School of Mines at 1:30 p.m.
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