LAKELAND, Fla. – After a thrilling 2-1 win on the road over Truett McConnell, the No. 25 Southeastern University men’s soccer team looks to keep building an early rhythm of success. With participation in the Columbia International Invitational and hosting the SEU Invitational, the Fire are set to play four matches in a span of just seven days.
GAMES
CIU Invitational, Sessions Soccer Field, Columbia, S.C.
Monday, 7:00 p.m. at Columbia International University Rams
Wednesday, 7:00 p.m. at Grace College Lancers
SEU Invitational, SEU Soccer Complex, Lakeland, Fla.
Saturday, 7:30 p.m. vs. Montreat College
Monday, 2:00 p.m. vs. University of the Virgin Islands
COVERAGE
CIU INVITE: Live Stats Live Video
SEU INVITE: Live Stats Live Video
FIRE FOCUS
Junior midfielder Skylar Funk made an immediate impact for the Fire in his first match with the program. The Lewis and Clark Community College product netted both goals in Southeastern’s 2-1 win over TMU.
This marked back-to-back season-opening wins for SEU and was the fourth-straight Fire opener that was decided by a one-goal differential.
Graduate forward Jake Van Der Luit recorded his 75th point in a Southeastern uniform with his assist on Funk’s first goal.
Senior goalkeeper Logan Whitney recorded five saves in goal in the SEU win.
ALL-TIME FIRE
Southeastern’s meetings with Grace and UVI this week will be the first in program history.
This will mark the third meeting all-time between SEU and both CIU and Montreat. SEU leads both all-time series 2-0.
Graduate forward Grayson Wilkes is the only member of the current roster to have scored a goal versus CIU after finding the back of the net in the 2-1 Fire overtime win over the Rams in 2015.
Sophomore forward Eric Ugarte scored the first goal of his collegiate career in last season’s 2-1 overtime win over Montreat.
THE RAMS
Columbia International opens up its 2019 season tonight versus Southeastern.
The Rams are coming off an 11-10 2018 campaign in which they advanced to the Appalachian Athletic Conference Quarterfinals.
CIU returns last season’s freshman sensation in forward Marcos Da Paz. The Recife, Brazil native scored a team-best 19 goals which ranked 14th in the NAIA last season.
THE LANCERS
Grace is 1-1 on the season after a 3-0 win over Rochester and a 3-0 loss to No. 12 Georgia Gwinnett.
Although he has yet to find the back of the net in 2019, senior forward Cody Boerema is back for Grace after leading the team in goals with 12 last season.
Junior midfielder Ulisses Miranda is also back for the Lancers after recording six goals and seven assists last season. The Mato Grosso, Brazil native has recorded goal and one assist through two contests.
THE CAVALIERS
Montreat opened up its season with a 1-0 win over Pikeville.
Senior defender Andre Dinca netted the lone goal for MC. Dinca is the leading returning goal scorer with three tallies back in 2018.
The Cavaliers have an astounding 16 different nations represented on their active roster.
THE BUCCANEERS
UVI will face NCAA Division II Eckerd College on Saturday before taking on Southeastern the following Monday afternoon.
Be sure to follow @SEUFireMSoccer on Twitter for all of the latest updates on Fire Soccer!