QUINCY, Ill. – The Quincy University men's soccer team returns to Legends Stadium on Saturday, October 10, to host Southwest Baptist University in a Great Lakes Valley Conference matchup. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 PM.

Quincy enters the matchup with a 5-2-6 overall record and a 4-1-5 mark in GLVC play following a 1-1 draw against Maryville on Wednesday night.

Southwest Baptist comes to Quincy at 6-4-2 overall and 3-4-2 in conference action after earning a 5-3 victory over William Jewell.

With only four regular-season matches remaining, Saturday carries major importance for both teams in a tightly packed GLVC race.

Last Time Out

Quincy battled Maryville to a 1-1 draw Wednesday night at Legends Stadium.

Leo Cann put two attempts on goal during the opening half, forcing a pair of saves from the Maryville goalkeeper, but neither side was able to find the breakthrough.

The match remained scoreless deep into the second half before Josh Nwosu gave Quincy the lead in the 78th minute. Nwosu caught the Maryville goalkeeper off guard and found the back of the net for his fifth goal of the season.

The Saints continued to apply pressure and eventually equalized in the 87th minute.

Neither team could find a winner over the final minutes.

Maryville finished with a narrow 10-9 advantage in total shots, while Quincy held a 3-2 edge in shots on goal. The Saints also held a 7-6 advantage in corner kicks.

Cann led Quincy with three shots, including two on goal, while Nwosu finished with two attempts and the Hawks' lone goal.

With Jake Offerman serving a one-game suspension following his red card against Drury, Max Frericks made the second start of his collegiate career in goal. Frericks played all 90 minutes, allowing one goal while making one save. Offerman has now served the suspension and is eligible to return Saturday.

Four Matches Remain in Tight GLVC Race

Saturday begins Quincy's final four-match stretch of the regular season.

Lincoln, Drury and Maryville currently sit atop the standings with 20 points. Indianapolis and Missouri S&T follow with 18, while Quincy sits sixth with 17 points.

That leaves the Hawks only three points from the top of the conference and just one point away from fourth place and a potential home match in the opening round of the GLVC Tournament.

Behind Quincy, Rockhurst currently occupies eighth place with 13 points. Southwest Baptist and UMSL sit just outside the tournament field with 11 points apiece.

The top eight teams qualify for the GLVC Tournament, while the top four seeds host the opening round.

That gives both teams plenty to play for Saturday.

Quincy has an opportunity to move closer to a top-four position, while Southwest Baptist enters just two points outside the current postseason field.

Southwest Baptist Offense Meets Quincy Defense

One of Saturday's biggest storylines will feature a productive Southwest Baptist offense against a Quincy defense that has been one of the Hawks' most consistent strengths.

The Bearcats have scored 38 goals through 12 matches, averaging 3.17 per contest while generating 18.1 shots per match. SBU has also scored nine goals over its last three outings, highlighted by Wednesday's five-goal performance against William Jewell.

Quincy, meanwhile, has surrendered just 10 goals through 13 matches. The Hawks have consistently limited opponents' opportunities and are allowing fewer than 10 shots per contest.

Offerman has anchored that group with 27 saves and five shutouts and is available to return Saturday after missing the Maryville match. Frericks also showed he can step in when needed, allowing just one goal in his second collegiate start Wednesday.

Saturday will provide one of Quincy's toughest defensive tests of the season against a Bearcats attack with several proven scoring options.

Quincy Looks to Build Around Cann and Nwosu

Quincy enters Saturday with 19 goals through 13 matches.

Cann continues to lead the Hawks with seven goals and three assists. Nwosu has added five goals and two assists and enters Saturday after scoring the lone Quincy goal against Maryville.

The Hawks will look to generate more consistent opportunities against a Southwest Baptist defense that has been much more vulnerable than its offense.

The Bearcats have allowed 25 goals through 12 matches, more than two per contest.

That could give Quincy an opportunity to find additional production after several low-scoring matches during the second half of the season.

Common Opponents

Quincy and Southwest Baptist have faced several of the same GLVC opponents.

Against UMSL, Quincy earned a 0-0 draw while Southwest Baptist played the Tritons to a 2-2 result. The Hawks battled Maryville to a 1-1 draw Wednesday, while Southwest Baptist suffered a 10-2 loss to the Saints.

Both teams earned victories over Lewis, with Quincy winning 3-1 and SBU taking a 1-0 result. Against Missouri S&T, Quincy earned a 1-0 victory while Southwest Baptist fell 3-0.

Both programs played Indianapolis to a 1-1 draw. The teams have also faced William Jewell. Quincy battled the Cardinals to a scoreless draw, while Southwest Baptist earned a 5-3 victory Wednesday.

Series History

Since 2013, Quincy is 6-0-2 against Southwest Baptist. The Hawks are also unbeaten in five home meetings with the Bearcats over that span.

Last season's matchup at SBU Soccer Field ended in a 1-1 draw. After a scoreless opening half, Nwosu broke through in the 52nd minute to give Quincy a 1-0 advantage.

The Hawks continued to create opportunities, but Southwest Baptist eventually found the equalizer in the 84th minute.

Offerman made six saves while facing 14 SBU shots. Quincy finished with six total attempts, while the teams were even with four corner kicks apiece.

Scouting Southwest Baptist

The Bearcats enter Saturday with one of the GLVC's most productive attacks.

Southwest Baptist is coming off a 5-3 victory over William Jewell in which the teams entered halftime tied at 2-2 before SBU scored three times after the break.

Thomas Ladetto led the way with two goals and an assist. Joe Wright and Justin McPherson each recorded a goal and an assist as the Bearcats continued their strong offensive season.

Southwest Baptist finished with 23 shots, including 12 on goal, and held an 8-3 advantage in corner kicks. Martin King made four saves in goal to earn his second consecutive victory.

Wright leads the Bearcats with nine goals and four assists.

Ladetto has contributed six goals and three assists, while Nathaniel Velasquez has added six goals and two assists.

The Bearcats have received production from throughout the attacking group, which has helped them average more than three goals per match.

The defensive side has been less consistent.

SBU has allowed 25 goals this season.

Jan-Henry Schäfer has started 10 matches in goal and recorded 23 saves, while King has started the last two contests and is 2-0 in those appearances.

Southwest Baptist finished 7-9-2 overall and 4-8-2 in GLVC play last season, earning 14 conference points. The Bearcats have already surpassed last season's total of 26 goals.

SBU is led by first-year head coach Aron Bassoff, who brought extensive experience across NCAA Division II, NAIA and NJCAA programs to Bolivar.

Senior Day

Saturday will also provide Quincy with an opportunity to recognize a senior class that has played an important role throughout the program.

The Hawks will honor Jake Offerman, Colin Imig, Lucca Barbero, Carter Venvertloh, Nolan Fleer, Rodrigo Bandeira, Erik Jimenez and Neftali Barraza-Vizcarra prior to kickoff.

The group includes contributors throughout the field and several players who have played key roles in Quincy's success over multiple seasons.

Offerman has provided stability in goal, while Barbero, Venvertloh, Bandeira and the rest of the class have all contributed to a program that remains firmly in the GLVC postseason race.

Matchup Outlook

Saturday's matchup features two teams with very different strengths and plenty at stake.

Quincy will look to lean on a defense that has allowed only 10 goals while generating enough offense to take advantage of an SBU team surrendering more than two goals per match.

Cann and Nwosu will again be central to that effort, while Offerman's return gives Quincy its regular starter back in goal against one of the conference's highest-scoring attacks.

Southwest Baptist will look to continue creating pressure through Wright, Ladetto and Velasquez after scoring five goals Wednesday.

With four regular-season matches remaining, Saturday provides Quincy with an opportunity to celebrate Senior Day, strengthen its GLVC Tournament position and potentially move closer to a top-four seed.

Kickoff between Quincy and Southwest Baptist is scheduled for 2:30 PM Saturday at Legends Stadium.