SLIAC Game of the Week - Oct. 8
The St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) Game of the Week is a weekly feature that highlights a key match-up in the conference. This week's SLIAC Game of the Week is the men's soccer game between Principia College and Spalding University in Louisville, Ky. on Saturday, October 12.
At A
Glance
The last time Principia and Spalding met on the pitch it was a
thrilling game to end the 2012 season. Principia jumped out to a
3-0 lead in the road contest before Spalding came storming back in
the second-half. The Golden Eagles netted two goals in the final 45
but were never able to find the equalizer.
This season Spalding comes into the game as the SLIAC's top scoring team with 38 goals this season, averaging 2.9 per game. Principia however will look to slow down the Golden Eagles attack and with their staunch defense which has allowed the second fewest goals (15) this season in the SLIAC.
About the Panthers
Principia enters with a 3-5-2 overall record and a 1-1 mark in the
SLIAC. They are coming off their first conference win of the
season, a 7-1 victory over Iowa Wesleyan College last Saturday. The
Panthers are led by Nate Waters who has a team best four goals and
nine total points. In goal the Panthers have Gavin Thomas who has
recorded 41 saves in just under 950 minutes of action with two
shutouts and a 1.42 goals against average.
About the Golden Eagles
Spalding enters the weekend with a 7-6 overall record and a 2-1
record in SLIAC play. After dropping their SLIAC opener against
Greenville, a 2-1 overtime loss, Spalding has won back to back
conference games. Spalding, the league's top scoring team, has
three players with at least five goals this season. They are led by
Jackson Cantrell's eight goals while reigning SLIAC Newcomer of the
Year Julio De Leon leads the conference in assists this season with
nine. Logan Spencer has worked the majority of the time in the net
and has made 55 saves with one shutout and a 1.59 goals against
average.
Game Notes
- Spalding enters the game as the top scoring conference team in the SLIAC while Principia has allowed the second fewest goals in the conference this season.
- Principia defeated Spalding 3-2 in the teams' last meeting.
- In common opponents this season the two teams are nearly identical. With each team picking up a win over Iowa Wesleyan and each team falling to Anderson. The only difference is their meeting against Hanover in which Principia tied 2-2 and Spalding lost 2-1.
- Principia leads the all-time series against Spalding 4-0.
- Julio De Leon is looking to become the first SLIAC player to lead the league in assists on multiple occassions since Greenville's David Dunlop lead the league in 2008 and 2010. De Leon leads the league this year with nine and finished first last season with 11.
