MEN'S SOCCER GAMEDAY: Rollins at Eckerd

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Eckerd Triton men's soccer team will look to keep its unbeaten streak alive as it hosts Rollins College on Saturday at 7:00 PM at the Turley Athletic Complex.

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SETTING THE STAGE
The Tritons (5-0-1) are off to the best start in program history since before 2007 with no losses on their record through their first six games.  They have, thus far, boasted one of the nation's best defenses.  They'll face one of the Sunshine State Conference's top offenses tonight in Rollins (4-4, 2-1), which ranks third in conference with 2.62 goals per match.

LAST TIME THEY MET
Rollins spoiled senior night for Eckerd with a 2-1 win in St. Petersburg on October 18, 2014.  EC equalized the match in the 70th minute on a header by Nick Murawski, but the Tars regained the lead four monutes later on a Davi Kuckkahn goal.

INSIDE THE SERIES
Rollins leads the all-time series over Eckerd, 36-9-1.  The Tritons are looking to break the Tars' streak of nine straight wins in the series; EC's last win over Rollins came on September 27, 2008, by the score of 4-0.

ABOUT THE TARS
- While scoring hasn't been much of an issue for the Tars, who average 2.62 goals per match, keeping opponents from scoring has been a problem at times.  Rollins has allowed an average of 2.38 goals per match, ranking ahead of only Florida Southern.  They've given up four goals twice and three goals once, although they've tightened things up during conference play in allowing only one goal to both Tampa and Saint Leo.
- The Rollins offense runs through junior midfielder Tosan Popo, who leads the conference in assists with nine and is second in points with 17.  Popo ranks fourth in NCAA Division II in assists per game and second in total assists.
- Three Tars have notched four goals apiece - Popo, Grant Blackhurst and Brett Durrance.  Matt Volk and Alexis Martinez have scored three each.
- Rollins is led by head coach Keith Buckley, now in his 25th season on the sidelines for the Tars.  His career record of 288-137-27 is 27th-best in the history of NCAA Division II men's soccer and ranks 16th amoung active coaches.

ABOUT THE TRITONS
- Eckerd has made a name for itself this season with its defense as the Tritons enter tonight's game ranking third in NCAA Division II in goals allowed average (0.32).
- The Tritons' offense has been led by newcomers Westleigh Rush and Matheus Assumpcao, both of whom have scored four goals.  Senior Richard Ainscough leads the team in points with nine on the strength of three goals and three assists.
- Eckerd is off to its best start to a season since before 2007, going unbeaten in its first six contests.  The Tritons have posted four shutouts in those matches, ranking fifth in D-II in shutout percentage and second in save percentage stopping 91.3 percent of opponents' shots taken on frame.
- Goalkeeper Alex Gott remains among the national leaders in several categories.  Entering tonight, he ranks fifth in goals allowed average (0.32) and fifth in save percentage (.909).

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS (Stat, Conference Rank)
GOALS: EC - Rush, Assumpcao (4, T-4th); RC - Popo, Durrance, Blackhurst (4, T-4th)
ASSISTS: EC - Ainscough, Leemon (3, T-3rd); RC - Popo (9, 1st)
POINTS: EC - Ainscough, Rush (9, T-8th); RC - Popo (17, 2nd)
SHOTS: EC - Rush (16,12th); RC - Blackhurst (25, 2nd)
SAVES: EC - Gott (20, 6th); RC - Grundler (36, 1st)
GOALS AGAINST: EC - Gott (2; 1st); RC - Grundler (18, 9th)