The UIS men's soccer team is set to kick off their postseason journey in the GLVC Quarterfinals this Sunday. The Prairie Stars will face Maryville at 1:30 p.m. in St. Louis, aiming to advance in the conference tournament.
(7) Illinois Springfield (5-7-5, 5-4-5 GLVC)
The Prairie Stars secured seventh place in the regular season, earning their eighth consecutive GLVC Tournament berth. UIS claimed the No. 7 seed after tying with Rockhurst at 20 points but winning the tiebreaker due to a 2-2 draw with Maryville, while Rockhurst fell 4-2. Last year, UIS made an impressive run to the GLVC Tournament Final, ultimately coming up just short in penalty kicks to Indianapolis.
On Friday night, the Prairie Stars clinched a spot in the GLVC Tournament with a commanding 3-1 victory over Upper Iowa. UIS set the tone early on senior night, taking the lead in the 5th minute when Kevin Herrera sent a pass down the left wing to Anton Aduwa-Emovon, who cut inside and struck a powerful shot past the Peacock goalkeeper. The Prairie Stars continued the pressure and were awarded a penalty just two minutes later. Herrera capitalized from the spot, making it 2-0 for UIS within the first ten minutes. Just before halftime, UIS extended their lead with a third goal. A short clearance by a UIU defender fell to Noah Brill, who netted his second goal of the season in the final minute of the half. The second half saw more balanced play, with both teams creating chances. Upper Iowa managed to pull one back in the 63rd minute when Thomas Walle intercepted a pass and scored from the top of the box, narrowing the score to 3-1. UIS remained the more aggressive side in the closing stages but didn't add to their tally. The Prairie Stars outshot the Peacocks 12-7, holding a 7-4 edge in shots on goal.
The Prairie Stars had a pivotal role in the GLVC Regular Season Championship race when they hosted Lewis on Sunday. With Lewis needing another win after a Friday victory over Indianapolis, the Flyers entered the match with high stakes. They opened the scoring in the 16th minute, as Mikey Revell struck a superb volley that bounced in off the left post. Revell added to the lead in the 30th minute, setting up Makonnen Stampley with a pass across the box for an easy finish into an open net. UIS was able to get a goal back in the 37th minute with good interplay which ended up with the Flyers scoring an own goal. The second half turned into a defensive standoff, with Lewis focused on maintaining their lead and denying the Prairie Stars any further opportunities. At the final whistle, Lewis celebrated, securing the GLVC Regular Season Title.
The Prairie Stars have netted 23 goals this season, while conceding 27. Kevin Herrera leads the scoring with five goals, followed closely by Anton Aduwa-Emovon, who has four. Joey Fitzgerald and Corne Boshoff have each contributed three goals, with Fitzgerald also leading the team in assists, totaling seven this season. In goal, Edoardo Pinna has been the primary starter recently, playing the last five matches and nine games overall, with 18 goals allowed.
(2) Maryville (10-4-4, 9-2-3 GLVC)
The Saints wrapped up the regular season in second place, securing their ninth consecutive berth in the GLVC Tournament. Maryville earned the No. 2 seed, edging out McKendree on a tiebreaker with their 1-0 victory over Lewis, while McKendree settled for a 0-0 tie. Maryville has claimed two GLVC Tournament titles, both in penalty shootouts, in 2018 and 2020. Last year, they exited in the quarterfinals with a narrow 1-0 loss to McKendree. Currently, the Saints are receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches National Poll and are ranked fifth in the latest Super Region 3 rankings.
Maryville entered the weekend with a shot at the GLVC Regular Season Title, needing two wins to secure it. On Friday, they hosted a resilient Truman State squad in St. Louis. The first half saw opportunities for both teams but remained scoreless. Maryville took control early in the second half, with Yayo Mutombo netting twice in quick succession, scoring in the 49th and 65th minutes to put the Saints up 2-0. However, Truman State responded almost immediately, scoring in the 66th minute amid a scramble in the Maryville box, and quickly equalized. Despite regaining their offensive push, the Saints couldn't break through in the final stretch, settling for a 2-2 draw. Maryville outshot Truman 24-10, with an 11-5 edge in shots on target.
In a crucial matchup at the top of the GLVC table, Maryville faced Quincy on Sunday, needing a win to keep their title hopes alive after Friday's draw allowed Lewis to move into first place. The Saints opened the scoring in the 19th minute through Sebastian Weitlaner and controlled much of the play, but couldn't add to their lead before halftime. Maryville's persistence paid off in the second half, as they broke through with a flurry of goals: Alberto Di Pierri scored in the 71st minute, Carl Norby followed in the 77th, and Omar Cllic capped the run in the 80th minute. Quincy managed a late goal in the 87th minute, but it wasn't enough, and Maryville emerged with a commanding 4-1 victory. MU dominated the stats, outshooting QU 16-3, including a 9-2 advantage in shots on target.
Maryville has scored 25 goals this season while allowing only 18 goals. Mason Crew leads the Saints with five goals and also tops the team with five assists. Bryce Glisson and Yayo Mutombo follow closely with four goals each, and both have contributed three assists alongside Sebastian Weitlaner. In goal, Steen Nielsen and Theo McIntyre have split duties this season. Nielsen has started nine games, conceding five goals, while McIntyre has started six games, also allowing five goals.
UIS vs Maryville History
The Prairie Stars hold an 11-7-4 all-time record against Maryville. The teams played to an exciting 2-2 draw on Oct. 20 in St. Louis. UIS won the 2023 regular season matchup 1-0. The last time Maryville defeated the Stars was in the 2022 GLVC Tournament Semifinal, with a 4-0 victory. Maryville is now coached by former UIS head coach, Adam Hall.