FULTON, Mo. - The William Woods University men's soccer team looks for their first win on the season Sunday night as they take on the Graceland University (Iowa) Yellow Jackets. Due to an unplayable heat index, game time has been moved from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Firley Field.
About the Yellow Jackets
This will be the first time the Yellow Jackets take the field for the 2018 season. Graceland (GU) enters their season finishing eleventh in the Heat of America Conference. They finished their season 5-12-1 overall. Last season, GU recorded 30 goals in 18 games. Third Team All-Conference forward Rafael Yegors returns this season for the Yellow Jackets. Yegors tallied seven goals in nine games for Graceland last season.
Against GU
Last season the Owls traveled to Lamoni, Iowa to take on the Yellow Jackets on August 23rd, the match would end in a double overtime draw. In last year's matchup, the Owls and Yellow Jackets had 14 shots each and GU had seven shots on goal compared to the Owls seven.
All-Time vs. GU
William Woods is 3-4-1 all-time against Graceland. Last season the Owls played to a 0-0 double overtime draw and in 2016, the Owls defeated the Yellow Jackets, 2-1 in overtime. In 2016,
Alberto Pitarch scored the game winning goal for the Owls.
About the Owls
The Owls return to the field after a 5-1 loss to Culver-Stockton College on August 24th. WWU sophomore
Darren Wilson scored the only goal in the contest and hold the only goal on the season for William Woods. The Owls are outshooting their opponents 22 to 17 on the season but the Owls have only put half of their shots on goal.
Darren Wilson leads the team with five shots on the season.
Slow Start
WWU is off to a slow start as they are currently 0-2 heading into the third game of the season. However, the Owls in 2017 started the season 0-2-1 before finishing the season 13-4-3, winning the AMC Regular season for the first time and advancing to the NAIA Men's Soccer Opening Round for the first time in program history. Last season the Owls did not pick up its first win until September 3rd at St. Francis (Ill.).
What's Next
WWU will head to Leavenworth, Kan. Wednesday, August 29 as the face the University of St. Mary (Kan.). Game time is set for 6 p.m.
