Men's Soccer Aim to Seize Control in 2015
Sep 1, 2015
After a 2014 full of nailbiters and narrow finishes, the Spartans aim to seize control behind a balanced attack in an effort to claim their fifth, Top-3 Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) finish in the last seven years.
Players to Watch: All-IIAC First Team selections F Gonzalo Hernandez and senior GK Riley Jensen pace the Spartan offense and defense, respectively. Already in the UD Top-10 goal scorers, Hernandez has scored 13 goals throughout his career and netted nine of those a year ago. Hernandez’s one goal and one assist boosted UD to a first round IIAC victory, 3-1, over Simpson in last year’s tournament. Jensen became the first UD goalkeeper to ever receive first-team honors after leading the IIAC with 43 saves during conference play. Jensen was brilliant against Loras in semifinals after allowing a mere two goals thanks to a season-high 12 saves while facing 33 total shots on the night.
Seniors MF Billy Belmonte and D Jake Fahrenkrug bring the leadership and fill the stat sheet as well. Belmonte scored five goals with one assist while Fahrenkrug chipped in one goal and one assist from the back line in 2014.
2014 Stats
Schedule: The Spartan men open up IIAC play against Wartburg on September 26 after finishing in a 1-1 stalemate that featured five yellow cards in 2014. UD ends the regular season with four of their last six contests at home, including a rematch with Loras in the finale on October 27.
2015 IIAC Coaches Preseason poll and UD’s 2014 results against
|
MEN'S SOCCER |
||||
|
2015 PRESEASON RANK |
SCHOOL |
POINTS |
TEAM RECORD |
2014 SCORE/RESULT |
|
1 |
Loras |
53 |
17-3-2, 7-0-0 |
Lost 1-0 and Lost 2-1 (OT) |
|
1 |
Wartburg |
53 |
13-4-6, 5-1-1 |
Tied 1-1 (2OT) |
|
3 |
Luther |
44 |
16-3-1, 5-2-0 |
Lost 4-3 (2OT) |
|
4 |
Simpson |
37 |
12-9-0, 3-4-0 |
Won 2-1 (2OT) and Won 3-1 |
|
5 |
DUBUQUE |
33 |
7-9-3, 4-2-1 |
-- |
|
6 |
Central |
26 |
5-13-0, 2-5-0 |
Won 2-1 |
|
7 |
Buena Vista |
17 |
4-13-1, 0-7-0 |
Won 4-2 |
|
7 |
Coe |
17 |
4-14-0, 1-6-0 |
Won 5-2 |
Head Coach Brad Johnson on upcoming season,"There are high expectations for the University of Dubuque men’s soccer program entering the 2015 season. The Spartans will look to an experienced class of returners and an eager class of newcomers to continue our successful ways. The Iowa Conference will once again be very competitive and we are excited to start the 2014 season.”
