QUINCY, Ill. – The Quincy University men's soccer team returns to Legends Stadium on Saturday to host William Jewell College in Great Lakes Valley Conference action. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 PM.
The Hawks enter the match with a 5-1-3 overall record and remain unbeaten in GLVC play at 4-0-2 following a 4-2 victory over Illinois Springfield on Wednesday.
William Jewell comes to Quincy at 2-6 overall and 1-4 in conference action after earning a 4-1 victory over Truman State.
Saturday's matchup features two teams coming off strong offensive performances, with Quincy looking to continue its consistent run of form while William Jewell attempts to build on its best offensive showing of the season.
Last Time Out
Quincy continued its unbeaten conference run Wednesday with a 4-2 victory over Illinois Springfield at Legends Stadium.
The Hawks wasted little time taking control, scoring twice within the opening eight minutes.
Leo Cann opened the scoring in the fifth minute after receiving a ball from
Mathias Bringedal, with goalkeeper
Jake Offerman also picking up an assist on the play.
Less than three minutes later, Cann returned the favor, finding Bringedal for his third goal of the season to give Quincy a quick 2-0 advantage.
UIS cut the deficit to one before the Hawks answered in the 33rd minute.
Josh Nwosu found the back of the net after
Erik Abraham and Cann helped set up the opportunity, restoring Quincy's two-goal advantage.
Nwosu struck again in the 64th minute to complete the second brace of his collegiate career and extend the lead to 4-1.
The Hawks finished with an 18-7 advantage in shots as they produced their highest-scoring performance of conference play.
Cann finished with one goal and two assists, Bringedal added a goal and an assist, and Nwosu led the scoring effort with two goals.
Quincy Attack Continues to Produce
Quincy has developed into one of the GLVC's most balanced attacking teams through the first half of the season.
The Hawks have scored 18 goals through nine matches, averaging two goals per contest while consistently generating opportunities throughout the lineup.
Cann continues to lead the attack with seven goals and three assists.
Nwosu has emerged as another major scoring threat with four goals and two assists, while Bringedal has contributed three goals and two assists.
The Hawks have scored eight goals over their last four matches and have received contributions from several different players during that stretch.
That balance has made Quincy difficult to defend, with opponents unable to focus solely on stopping one attacking option.
Defense Remains a Strength
While the offense produced four goals Wednesday, Quincy's defense has continued to provide a reliable foundation.
The Hawks have allowed only eight goals through nine matches and have recorded three shutouts.
Offerman has collected 21 saves while providing consistency in goal throughout Quincy's unbeaten start to conference play.
Opponents are averaging fewer than one goal per match against the Hawks, and Quincy has allowed more than one goal just twice this season.
The combination of steady defensive play and an increasingly productive attack has helped Quincy remain one of the GLVC's unbeaten teams through six conference matches.
Series History
Quincy holds an 11-3-1 advantage in the all-time series against William Jewell. The Hawks earned a 2-0 victory over the Cardinals last season at Legends Stadium.
Carlos Moreno Henao opened the scoring in the seventh minute off an assist from Nwosu before Bringedal added an insurance goal in the 71st minute on a setup from
Alvaro Heredia Garcia.
William Jewell finished with a 16-13 advantage in total shots, but Quincy was more efficient with its opportunities.
Offerman turned away all seven shots he faced to secure the shutout.
Quincy is also 5-1 at home against William Jewell and will look to continue that success Saturday.
Scouting William Jewell
William Jewell enters Saturday with renewed confidence after earning a convincing 4-1 victory over Truman State on Wednesday.
The Cardinals scored three times within the opening 17 minutes to take control early.
Owen Pereira opened the scoring before Daniel Pirillo found the back of the net twice to give William Jewell a commanding first-half advantage.
Elias Munoz added another goal in the second half as the Cardinals secured their second victory of the season.
Pirillo's two-goal performance increased his season total to six, accounting for six of William Jewell's eight goals this season.
The Cardinals were held scoreless through their first four matches but have found the back of the net eight times over their last four contests.
Goalkeeper Aidan Smith played all 90 minutes against Truman and made seven saves.
For the season, William Jewell has scored eight goals while allowing 12. The Cardinals average 8.4 shots per match while allowing 13.1.
William Jewell is led by first-year head coach Keith Buderus, who joined the program after spending the previous four seasons as associate head coach at UCCS.
Matchup Outlook
Saturday's matchup features a Quincy team looking to continue its unbeaten conference start against a William Jewell side beginning to find more offensive production.
The Hawks have scored 18 goals this season behind a balanced attack led by Cann, Nwosu and Bringedal while pairing that production with a defense that has allowed fewer than one goal per match.
William Jewell enters with momentum after scoring four times against Truman and will look to continue getting production from Pirillo, who has accounted for 75 percent of the Cardinals' goals this season.
For Quincy, limiting Pirillo while continuing to create chances throughout the attacking third will be key as the Hawks look to remain unbeaten in GLVC play.
Kickoff between Quincy and William Jewell is scheduled for 1:30 PM Saturday at Legends Stadium.
GLVCSN
Live Stats
Box Score vs. Illinois Springfield
