MEN'S SOCCER GAMEDAY: Webber International at Eckerd

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Eckerd College men's soccer team returns to the Turley Athletic Complex on Wednesday hosting Webber International (Fla.) at 4:30 PM.

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SETTING THE STAGE
After playing in pre-season exhibition matches each of the last two years, today's contest will count as Eckerd and Webber International meet officially for the first time since 2009.  The Tritons (2-0) have posted a pair of one-goal wins as the team continues to work in several new players into the lineup.  While the offense jells, the defense has more than done its job by allowing only one goal in the two matches - and that was the result of an indirect kick from just outside the box.  The Warriors (1-0) won their season opener on September 12 over Florida College, 4-0.  WIU dominated the match from the start, taking 20 shots while holding the Falcons shotless.  Ivan Bakovic scored the final two of the Warriors' four goals in the contest.

LAST TIME THEY MET
The Tritons jumped ahead early on a Matt Duffy goal in the second minute, but the Warriors came back with two first-half goals that proved to be enough as WIU picked up a 2-1 win over Eckerd in St. Petersburg in September 16, 2009.

NEWCOMER IMPACT
Eckerd has scored three goals thus far this season and newcomers have been involved in all of them.  Westleigh Rush, Mauricio Salvatierra and Matheus Assumpcao have scored the Tritons' goals thus far with John Badu-Koomson and Juan David Tejada credited with assists.  Returning players Jordan Lee and Wyeth Leemon have also helped set up scoring runs.

BACK LINE STRENGTH
The Triton defense has been making it very difficult for opponents to take quality opportunities at the goal.  Through two matches, Eckerd has allowed only five shots on goal.  Sophomore keeper Alex Gott has stopped four, and the one that slipped into the net was off an unlucky deflection following a set piece just outside the box.

HOME STAND BEGINS
Tonight marks the start of a long stretch of home contests for the Tritons.  They'll play three straight at the Turley Athletic Complex beginning tonight and running through next Wednesday.  After road match at Embry-Riddle on September 26, Eckerd is back for two more conference contests on October 3 and 7.  The team then finishes the year with five of its final six matches on the road.

NATIONAL LEADERS
Eckerd finds itself among the national leaders as a team in both assists and shots taken in the early season.  The Tritons rank 18th in the nation in assists per game (2.5) and seventh in shots on goal per game (10).  Juan David Tejada currently ranks seventh in Division II in assists per game (1.0).