KIAC Game of the Week -- Men's Soccer #24 WVU Tech at #1 Rio Grande
KIAC Game of the Week -- Men's Soccer #24 WVU Tech at #1 Rio Grande
(Pictured: WVU Tech's Francisco Neto (left) and Rio Grande's Luiz Filho (right))
#24 WVU Tech (13-0, 4-0 KIAC) at #1 Rio Grande (14-1, 4-0 KIAC) -- Wed., Oct. 21 at 7 p.m.
Live Video (Stretch Internet) / Live Stats (Dakstats)
RIO GRANDE, Ohio -- The NAIA Top 25 matchup of No. 24 WVU Tech (13-0) at No. 1 Rio Grande (14-1) takes center stage as the "KIAC Game of the Week." Both teams are 4-0 KIAC for what likely will end up determining the KIAC regular season championship. Both teams are 2.0 games ahead of the rest of the KIAC with only one game remaining after this one.
The Golden Bears meet the RedStorm on Wednesday, Oct. 21 at 7 p.m. in Rio Grande, Ohio. Live Video via Rio Grande's Stretch Internet portal as well as Live Stats will be provided at the links above.
WVU Tech is a new member to the KIAC this year, just like Rio Grande was a new member last year. Rio Grande won the KIAC Tournament in its first year in the conference. Now, both teams are vying for the playoff positioning toward the hopes of a KIAC championship on each side.
Rio Grande has been ranked No. 1 in all five weeks of the NAIA Top 25 Poll during the regular season. WVU Tech broke into the Top 25 for the first time ever last week and moved up one spot to No. 24 in this week's poll. The teams are a combined 27-1, the best combined record for any two Top 25 teams from the same conference.
Rio Grande has been very impressive this year as it is out-scoring opponents 62-9 through 15 games. The RedStorm keeps the pressure on and ranks first in the NAIA in shots per game (26.7). Their 62 total goals rank fourth nationally. Defensively, Rio Grande gives up 0.590 goals per game and is seventh nationally with eight shutouts.
WVU Tech is also a high-scoring side as it ranks first in the NAIA in goals per game at 4.85 and third in total goals with 63. The Golden Bears are also first in the nation with 14.0 shots on goal per game and second behind Rio Grande with 25.0 shots per game. Defensively, WVU Tech has given up only five goals in 13 games (.384 goals against per game) and has six shutouts, the latter of which ranks 22nd in the country.
Top players for Rio Grande include Willian Paulino with 13 goals and 30 points, one of nine players with more than 10 points on the team. Luiz Filho has six goals and 13 points. Joao Paulo Antonio leads the team with seven assists. Heitor de Melo has been a strong player on both ends and also has five goals.
The top threat for WVU Tech is left wing Francisco Neto, who has 15 goals and 34 points. He is eighth in the country in goals per game with 1.25. Jose Segarra and Daniel Ramirez each have 18 points as other top scorers. Hunter Moles and Pol Bernaldo have split the goalkeeper duties.
Follow the KIAC Game of the Wee on Twitter @KIACSports with hashtags #KIACgotw and #KIAC.
About the KIAC Game of the Week:
Each week during the fall sports season, the KIAC will feature a marquee matchup in one of three sports -- volleyball, men's soccer or women's soccer. The KIAC Game of the Week will rotate among those three sports and put the conference schools, teams, student-athletes and campuses in the spotlight. Follow the KIACsports.com website for each week's announcement of the KIAC Game of the Week. The game of the week will be featured on the KIAC website with a recap and have any live video or live stats highlighted to increase viewership.