Men's soccer set to host Wartburg in IIAC Tournament
INDIANOLA, Iowa – The Simpson Storm will host the Wartburg Knights in the first round of the Iowa Conference Men's Soccer Tournament on Saturday, Oct. 31. Start time is set for 6 p.m. from Buxton Stadium.
The Storm (9-8-2) enter the tournament as the No. 4 seed after winning the last four games of the regular season to finish tied for third in the league standings. The Knights (11-6-1) earned the No. 5 seed, finishing one point behind Simpson in the standings.
Simpson won the regular season meeting 1-0 in Waverly on Oct. 24.
LIVE COVERAGE
Live Video
Live Stats
2015 IIAC TOURNAMENT
Saturday, Oct. 31
No. 6 Coe at No. 3 Luther
No. 5 Wartburg at No. 4 Simpson
Wednesday, Nov. 4
Coe/Luther winner at No. 2 Dubuque
Wartburg/Simpson winner at No. 1 Loras
Saturday, Nov. 7
Semifinal winners at highest remaining seed
SCOUTING THE KNIGHTS
Wartburg's lineup features two of the most dangerous attacking players in the IIAC in Paris Martins and Zubeen Azari. The duo finished second and third in the league, respectively, with 51 and 46 shots. Martins and Ben Johnson tied for the team lead with seven goals apiece while Martins added five assists for a team-high 19 points.
Netminder Austin Boyke is arguably the best in the conference, leading the league in goals against average (0.83) and save percentage (.827). Wartburg allowed just five goals during the conference season, second only to league champion Loras.
SIMPSON IN THE IIAC TOURNAMENT
The Storm are making their 20th appearance in the IIAC Tournament and fifth under head coach Rick Isaacson. Simpson is 14-16-3 all-time and 2-1 against Wartburg.
The Storm are 2-4 in the postseason under Isaacson, losing to Dubuque 3-1 in the first round last season.
HEATING UP AT THE RIGHT TIME
As the temperatures drop, the Storm are heating up. Simpson closed the regular season by winning four in a row, outscoring opponents 14-1 to finish tied for third in the IIAC standings. Luther earned the No. 3 seed in the IIAC Tournament based on adjusted goal differential (6-5).
A trio of seniors have sparked the stretch run. In the last four games, Cody Jacobson has three goals, Marcus Varnum has two goals and one assist and Simpson all-time assists leader Tyler Neumann has a goal and three assists. Combined with three goals and one assist from Garrett Pochop, the Storm are playing their best soccer as the postseason approaches.
SHAKEUP IN GOAL
Austin Schafer has assumed the role of starting goalkeeper after backing up Zach McEntee for a majority of the season. Since taking over four games ago, Schafer has allowed just one goal, making nine saves and posting a 0.30 goals against average while going 4-0. Schafer is 5-2-1 on the season with a 1.09 goals against average.
