Midwest Roundup - Week 3

By D3soccer.com Contributor

We are quickly approaching the start of conference play throughout the Midwest with plenty of teams in their final weekend of non-conference regular season action.

As we look across the six states in our column, we are seeing both some familiar faces with fast and consistent starts and also newcomers who are emerging as the season progresses.

ILLINOIS

Chicago continues their hot start, sitting at a perfect 7-0-0 record just three weeks into the season. The Maroons have only surrendered one goal so far this year, which given their list of recent opponents–Wartburg, Elmhurst, Wheaton (Ill.), and North Park–shows the quality of their backline. The team has one more week until conference play begins in October.

MISSOURI

Another UAA side, Washington U., has also kicked off the campaign on a winning streak, earning four wins out of four games. Coach Joe Clarke’s group posted two impressive shutouts last week which included a 1-0 result over Wheaton and a 4-0 win over Luther. The Bears look poised to challenge for the UAA conference crown.

KENTUCKY

The Colonels of Centre were nationally ranked last week for the first time since 2008 and backed it up with a dramatic 3-2 win on the road at DePauw. Up 2-0 with under a half hour left, Centre surrendered the lead before winning in sudden-death style on Christian Gateskill’s goal. Another big test comes this week at Kenyon.

INDIANA

After a slow start to the season, the Little Giants of Wabash have picked up three wins out of four games, knocking off in-state rival Rose-Hulman in addition to wins over Fontbonne and Monmouth. Coach Chris Keller will be looking for his young group to be peaking when NCAC play starts soon.

OHIO

Kenyon is now 6-0-0, earning a huge 1-0 win over Thomas More and then thumping Muskingum this past week. In the win away at Thomas More, Brice Koval’s goal in the 43rd minute was the difference as the Lords .33 GAA continues to push them forward. Expect a battle when Centre comes to town this Wednesday.

We are quickly approaching the halfway mark of the 2016 regular season! With the arrival of conference action comes a new set of twists and turns to expect this fall. We are looking forward to seeing the conference standings after the first set of games around the Midwest.

Comments or feedback for the author? E-mail us.