FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mark Albanese, Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Media Relations

SOMERS, Wis. (Oct. 23, 2014)-- With three games left in the Great Lakes Valley Conference regular season there is still plenty on the line for the University of Wisconsin-Parkside men's and women's soccer teams, playing a pair of Hoosier State foes this weekend. The Rangers host the University of Indianapolis on Friday before hitting the road to face Saint Joseph's College on Sunday.
 
The Ranger men host UIndy at 1:15 p.m. on Friday with the sixth-ranked Ranger women following at 3:30 p.m. On Sunday vs. St. Joe's, the men's squad hits the pitch at noon with the women following at 2:30 p.m.
 
About the UW-Parkside men's soccer team: The Rangers (8-7, 5-7 GLVC) sit tied with Bellarmine University and the University of Southern Indiana for the eighth and final spot in the 2014 GLVC Tournament with three games remaining.
 
UW-Parkside split its home games last weekend, getting a goal in each half in a 2-0 blanking of Truman State University last Friday before suffering a 4-1 setback to 10th-ranked Quincy University on Sunday. Nemanja Medic netted a goal in the eighth minute against Truman while Antonio Gonzalez tacked on an insurance goal in the 52nd minute. Against Quincy, Jesus Oseguera tied the game 20 seconds after subbing into the game, netting the equalizer in the 28th minute. The Hawks scored in the 37th minute, owning a 2-1 lead at the break before tacking on two more scores in the second stanza.
 
On the season, Medic is the Rangers' leading scorer with eight goals while Gonzalez leads the team in assists (six) while sitting second on the squad in goals (seven). Abraham Kanneh has found the back of the net on six occasions this season while Jorge Ontiveros and Elliott Schultz have four and three goals respectively.  A total of 12 Rangers have scored this season while a total of 16 student-athletes have notched at least a point.
 
Marcos Perez has handled a majority of the goalkeeping duties, logging 65 saves on the season while helping the defense post five shutouts this year. The senior has started all but one game this season, logging 1,164 minutes between the posts and owns a goals against average of 1.47. His 65 saves ranks him 21st nationally among all goalkeepers in Division II.
 
About the Greyhounds: Indianapolis (8-4-2, 8-3-1 GLVC) rolls into Somers having won three in a row and eight of its last nine games. The Hounds lone setback during that stretch was a 1-0 setback on the road to unbeaten Quincy on Oct. 10. Since then, UIndy has outscored foes by an 11-2 margin, claiming wins over Truman State (2-0), University of Missouri-Saint Louis (3-0) and Maryville (6-2). UIndy's hot streak comes after a sluggish start to the season, going winless (0-3-2) its first five games of the season.
 
Jacob Meyer is the Hounds leading scorer with six goals while Ngwese Ebangwese and Daniel Wellmann each have five goals and five assists on the season.
 
In goal, Andrew Verhonik has played and started all 14 games for UIndy, owning a goals against average of 0.64 with 41 saves. Verhonik and the defense have collaborated for four shutouts on the season.
 
About the Pumas: Saint Joseph's (1-10-1, 1-12-1 GLVC) heads into the weekend looking to snap a nine-game skid. The Pumas began GLVC play 1-1-1, claiming a 1-0 win over William Jewell College on Sept. 14 and netting a 1-1 draw against Missouri University S&T on Sept. 19 but have come up empty handed since and have been outscored by a 49-4 margin this season. Last Friday SJC fell 5-1 at home to Maryville before getting blanked 3-0 by UMSL on Sunday.
 
Two of the Pumas' four goals this season come off the boot of Jeff Grider while Nick Cossyleon and Eric Frasco each have a goal and an assist on the season.
 
Lewis Jones IV is the Pumas' primary keeper, logging 1,228 minutes between the posts with 72 saves and a goals against average of 3.30.
 
GLVC Preseason Poll: UW-Parkside was picked to finish 11th in the annual GLVC Preseason Coaches' Poll released on August 27. The Rangers tallied 75 points in the rankings, falling 30 points shy of 10th place Truman State University. University of Indianapolis sits atop the rankings, claiming 213 points and eight of the 16 first place votes. Quincy University had four first place votes and sits second followed by Rockhurst in third place with three first place nods. Lewis University rounds out the top four with 189 points and the remaining first place endorsement.
 
GLVC Tournament: The GLVC Tournament begins on Sunday, Nov. 2 with the top eight teams qualifying for the event. The first round will hosted by the four highest seeds with the rest of the tournament being hosted by the highest remaining seed on Nov. 7 and 9. UW-Parkside has not participated in the annual postseason tournament since hosting an opening round game against Bellarmine University in 2009.
 
High-Octane Rangers: UW-Parkside ranks eighth nationally (out of 250) in total goals with 37 on the season while ranking eighth in total points (103). The Rangers rank 14th in total assists (29) and check in at No. 16 in scoring offense, averaging 2.47 goals per game.
 
Individually, Antonio Gonzalez ranks 24thnationally in assists with six and is tied for 36th nationally with teammate Nemanja Medic in total points (20).
 
Around the World: The Rangers' roster features three international student-athletes, including Remi Bibal from Toulouse, France, Kawsu Samba from Banjul, Gambia, and Szymon Owczarek from Gdansk, Poland.

Z is for Zitzke: Jason Zitzke enters his 16th season as a member of the coaching staff and his fourth season as head coach. During that span, the UW-Parkside graduate and 2010 Hall of Fame Inductee owns a 172-99-24 record, including three trips to the NCAA Tournament and one GLVC Championship (2000).
 
GLVC Player of the Week: UW-Parkside has had two players secure GLVC Player of the Week honors this season. Antonio Gonzalez was named the GLVC Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 8 after scoring four goals and three assists in just two games while Marcos Perez was the GLVC Defender of the Week on Sept. 29.
 
Perez was additionally named the NSCAA Disney Soccer Player of the Week on Sept. 30 after collecting a pair of shutouts, including a 12-save outing on Sept. 26 as the short-staffed Rangers held off host University of Southern Indiana 1-0.
 
About the UW-Parkside women's soccer team: The sixth-ranked Rangers (12-0-2, 10-0-2 GLVC) control their own destiny heading into the final days of the regular season with a win and a Bellarmine loss giving UW-Parkside a share of its third GLVC regular season title in program history and the first since 2008.
 
The high-flying Rangers have won five straight and sit atop the initial NCAA Midwest Region rankings released on Wednesday. UW-Parkside downed a pair of regionally-ranked squads last weekend at Wood Road Field by identical 2-1 scores. Truman scored first on Friday but a Taylor Schiffer-Jander goal in the 22nd minute tied the game while Emily Konior netted the game-winner, converting a penalty kick in the 81st minute. On Sunday against Quincy, Konior scored a goal in each half, propelling the host Rangers to the 2-1 win. Konior blasted a free kick from 30 yards out in the 21st minute before tallying another penalty kick score in the 74th minute.
 
On the season, Konior is the team's leader in both goals (eight) and points (18) with four of her eight goals turning out to be game-winners. Karley Mecko has seven goals on the season while Schiffer-Jander and Jillian Hetfleisch each have four scores in 2014. Bailey Reed and Kelsey Armour have three goals while five more Rangers have found the back of the net at least once. Niekie Pellens leads the team and the GLVC in assists with nine helpers on the year.
 
In goal, Mallory Geurts has played all but three minutes this season, helping the stout Ranger defense collect 10 shutouts. The sophomore has made 28 saves this season and owns a goals against average of 0.28. As a team the Rangers have outscored opponents by a 34-4 margin and have allowed just 32 shots on frame all season (2.3 per game).  
 
About the Greyhounds: Indianapolis (4-7-4, 3-5-4 GLVC) finished last weekend unbeaten, earning a 1-1 draw against UMSL on Friday before edging Maryville 1-0 on Sunday. The Hounds have been a tough team to beat at home inside Key Stadium, owning a 3-1-2 mark in those games but has struggled away from home, netting just one win in nine tries (1-6-2).
 
UIndy trailed 1-0 against the Tritons until Jocelyn Evans netted the equalizer in the 69th minute to conclude the scoring in the double overtime stalemate. Stacey Klene was the hero against Maryville, scoring in the 14th minute in the 1-0 victory.
 
Klene and Jocelyn Evans lead the Greyhounds, each scoring three goals this season while Katie Johnson is the team leader in assists with four.
 
Goalkeeper Megan Fee has played in 14 of UIndy's 15 games this season, making 104 saves with a goals against average of 1.37.
 
About the Pumas: Saint Joseph's (1-12-2, 0-10-2 GLVC) heads into the weekend looking to snap a four-game skid after falling 3-1 to both Maryville and UMSL last weekend. The Pumas are winless in their last eight games (0-7-1) with their lone victory of the season coming on Sept. 24 against non-league foe Marian University by a 1-0 score.
 
Erin Darland and Calleigh Olson lead the team in scoring, each with two goals while Brittany Santoro has a team-best three assists on the year.
 
Melissa Kuhar has played all 15 games between the posts, logging 72 saves and owning a goals against average of 2.19.
 
GLVC Prognostications: The Rangers were picked to finish fifth in the annual GLVC Coaches' Preseason Poll, released on August 28. UW-Parkside tallied 185 points, falling one point shy of fourth place Bellarmine University. Defending GLVC Champion Quincy University accrued 14 first place votes to snag the top spot followed by Truman State University in second and Rockhurst University in third.
 
16 and Counting: Under head coach Troy Fabiano the Rangers have experienced 16 straight winning seasons a streak spanning all the way back to 1999, Fabiano's second year as coach. He currently owns a 216-73-28 career mark at UW-Parkside, making seven NCAA appearances and winning four GLVC Championships.
 
The Rangers clinched its 16th straight winning campaign with a 2-0 win over Maryville University on Oct. 10.

GLVC Tournament: The Rangers have already secured a spot in the GLVC Tournament and will host the opening round game on Sunday, November 2. The top seed remaining after the opening round will host the semifinals and championship. Last season Quincy University served as host with the Rangers advancing all the way to the championship game.
 
NCAA Stats: The Rangers lead the nation in shutout percentage (0.714) and rank in the top seven more statistical categories. Parkside ranks second nationally (out of 228) in goals against average (0.277), fourth in winning percentage (0.929), 11th in total assists (30), 13th in assists per game (2.14), 17th in points per game (7.0) and 18th in save percentage (0.875).
 
Individually, Mallor Geurts sits third nationally in goals against average (0.278) and 38th in minutes played (1,297). Niekie Pellens is 13th nationally in total assists (nine) and 14th in per game average (0.64) while Emily Konior ranks 18th in game-winning goals (four).

Four and Counting: UW-Parkside has made the NCAA Tournament the past four seasons and five of the last six years. The Rangers have qualified for the Big Dance in 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2008, 2004 and 2003. The Rangers advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament in 2008 while making an appearance in the Sweet 16 in 2012 and 2010. UW-Parkside has advanced past the first round every time except for an opening round exit in 2003. The Rangers are 7-7-1 all-time in NCAA games.
 
Home Sweet Home: The Rangers have been nearly invincible at home in recent years, post­ing a 39-1-6 record over the last 46 games at Wood Road Field. The lone loss in that stretch was a 3-2 defeat to Rockhurst on Oct. 28, 2012 in the GLVC Tournament. UW-Parkside hasn't lost a regular season home game since falling 1-0 to Saginaw Valley State University in the 2010 season opener on Sept. 2 and hasn't dropped a regular season GLVC contest at Wood Road Field since suffering a 1-0 setback to the University of Indianapolis on October 2, 2009.
 
GLVC Player of the Week: UW-Parkside has been a consistent fixture of the GLVC weekly awards, claiming Defender of the Week accolades on four occasions. Emily Konior became a two-time honoree on Tuesday, securing the honor after netting a pair of game-winners. Konior additionally won the award on Sept. 22. Karley Mecko was the GLVC honoree on Sept. 8 while Niekie Pellens won the honor on Oct. 13.
 
Konior was additionally named the NSCAA Disney Soccer Player of the Week on Sept. 23. She became the second women's soccer player to land the honor since the award was created at the start of the 2013 season. Goalie Mallory Geurts won National Player of the Week on Oct. 8, 2013.
 
RangerNation: The 2014 UW-Parkside women's soccer roster features 27 student-athletes from eight different states and one foreign country. The Rangers hail from Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, California, Missouri, Kansas, Texas, Florida and the Netherlands.