SLIAC Game of the week - Greenville vs. Spalding
Posted: Sep 23, 2014

SLIAC Game of the week - Greenville vs. Spalding

The SLIAC Game of the Week highlights one key match-up within the conference each week. This week's Game of the Week is Saturday's men's soccer game between Greenville College and Spalding University.

At a Glance
This week's SLIAC Game of the Week pits two of the top teams in the SLIAC against each other as Greenville College and Spalding University square off on Saturday.

About Greenville
Greenville starts the week with a 4-3-1 overall record and are coming off a 2-1 win over Millsaps. They will be on the road against Benedictine-Springfield on Tuesday in a non-conference match before taking on Spalding. The Panthers are 1-1-1 in their last three games. The Panthers are averaging 1.2 goals and 7.2 shots per game while allowing 0.97 goals per game.

Greenville is led by a stout defense, headlined by goalkeeper Thomas Crown. Crown leads the SLIAC with an .868 save percentage and a 1.01 goals-against average. In over 626 minutes this season Crown has allowed just seven goals, recording 46 saves and one shutout. The Panthers have a balanced attack with three players notching two goals and a total of seven players scoring so far this season.

About Spalding
Spalding begins the week with a 6-2 overall record and have won two consecutive games, Illinois College and Berea. The Golden Eagles are averaging 2.0 goals and 14.6 shots per game this season while allowing just 1.03 goals per game.

Spalding's Abdullahi Abdullahi and Aden Abdirahman are tied for the league lead in goals with four while Julio De Leon is second in the league with three assists. The high scoring Golden Eagles have netted 16 goals this season, doubling up their opponents. In net Spalding features Logan Spencer, who holds a 1.03 goals-against average with 27 saves in over 600 minutes of action.

Game Notes

  • Greenville leads the all-time series against Spalding 4-0-1, including a 2-1 win at Greenville last year. 
  • This meeting will feature a combined five players that have won individual awards already this season. Greenville's Jordan York and Thomas Crown (twice) and Spalding's Logan Spencer, Julio De Leon, and Trevor Bruner have all taken home SLIAC Men's Soccer Player of the Week honors.
  • Spalding has already had three two game winning streaks this season. They are looking to extend their current two game winning streak to a season best three game with a win on Saturday. 
  • Greenville has not allowed more than one goal in a game since their 2013 SLIAC Tournament semifinal loss to Westminster.
  • This weekend marks the 2014 conference openers for the SLIAC men's soccer programs. In addition to Greenville at Spalding other weekend matchups include Eureka at Principia, Webster at Iowa Wesleyan, Blackburn at Westminster, and MacMurray at Fontbonne.