Men's Soccer Heads to Colorado
The Westminster men's soccer team will spend the week in Colorado as they play a pair of Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference games. The Griffins will open play on Wednesday when they face No. 23 Colorado Mesa at 5 p.m. in Grand Junction, Colo. They will then head to Pueblo, Colo. to face Colorado State University – Pueblo on Sunday at noon.
 
Live stats will be available during both games on this week's agenda. The game at Colorado Mesa on Wednesday will be broadcast live on the RMAC Network (rmacsports.tv) with CMU producing the content. Links for all live features are available at WestminsterGriffins.com/live.
 
About the Griffins
Westminster will start the week at 3-8 overall this season and 2-6 in RMAC play. The Griffins are currently eighth in the RMAC standings with six points. They have six games remaining on the schedule. The team is 1-3 in road games this season, including 1-2 in road conference games.
 
The Griffins are scoring 1.09 goals per game to rank 10th in the conference. They have scored a goal in eight of their games this season and have scored multiple goals three times. Westminster is attempting 8.6 shots per game and they out 54.7 percent of those attempts on goal. The Griffins have taken 35 corner kicks and scored on 1 of 2 penalty kicks.
 
Cristian Alfaro leads the Griffins in goals, assists, points, shots, and shots on goal. He has scored three goals and is tied for ninth in the RMAC with three assists. Alfaro has taken 23 shots and put 13 of those on goal. Jaden Olsen is second on the team with five points – two goals and one assist – while Connor Thompson and Preston McIllece have two goals each.
 
Westminster ranks 10th in the RMAC with a team goals-against-average of 2.44. They have tallied one shutout during the year and allowed multiple goals eight times. The opposition is taking 15.4 shots per game with 42 percent on goal. The Griffins have surrendered 53 corner kicks.
 
Max Medley has made nine starts in goal with a 2.25 GAA and .623 save percentage. Sean Lyne has made two starts with a 3.50 GAA and .462 save percentage. Sean Speirs made three saves without allowing a goal in his one appearance.
 
New Era for Westminster Men's Soccer
• The Griffins will embark on a new path this season as Josh Pittman takes over as head coach. Pittman was named the new coach in March after Chris Dorich retired after 32 years as the team's only head coach. He has 13 years of collegiate coaching experience, all of which were at the NCAA Division II level, and over 20 years of soccer experience as a coach and player.
 
Two on the Board
• With two goals against Hawaii Hilo, Westminster snapped a span of 14 straight games without scoring multiple goals. The team was just 1-12-1 during the stretch and they were shutout six times. The Griffins then scored two goals in a 3-2 loss against Colorado Mesa on September 23.
 
Rally for Victory
• The come-from-behind win against Hawaii Hilo was also the first time in 42 contests a Westminster team won a game in which they trailed. The team then secured a second come-from-behind win this season when they scored twice in a 14-minute window to beat Colorado Christian, 3-2, on October 7. Entering the season, the last comeback victory for the Griffins was a 2-1 win over Saint Ambrose on October 13, 2013.
 
Overtime Success
• The Griffins have had success this season when extending a game into overtime. They are 2-0 in games that were tied after regulation, scoring the game-winning in the first four minutes each time. The team is now 4-0-2 in its last six overtime games dating back to the 2014 season.
 
Halftime Adjustments
• The Griffins have scored 10 of their 12 total goals in the second half or overtime this season. They hadn't scored a first-half goal all season until Connor Thompson scored in the seventh minute against Colorado Christian on October 7.
 
No Experience Needed
• Cristian Alfaro is having a strong freshman campaign as he currently leads the Griffins in goals, assists, points, shots, and shots on goal. Alfaro has scored three times on the year and notched the overtime winner against CCU on October 7. He has attempted at least one shot in every game this season and has a shot on goal in 10 straight outings. His three assists currently rank tied for ninth in the RMAC.
 
Freshman Jitters?
• Preston McIllece has scored a pair of goals from his defensive position this season. The freshman has attempted eight shots with his two goals being is only shots on frame. McIllece leads all Griffins with 978 minutes played.
 
Taking Over in Goal
• Max Medley has assumed the position of starting keeper and has started the last six games and nine games overall this season. Medley ranks ninth in the RMAC with a 2.25 goals-against-average. The sophomore makes 3.67 saves per game to rank sixth in the conference while pointing a .623 save percentage. He recorded his first career shutout in a 1-0 win at Adams State on September 30.
 
Match Facts: No. 23 Colorado Mesa
• Colorado Mesa is 5-0 all-time against the Griffins.
• The Mavericks defeated the Griffins 3-2 on September 23 in SLC.
• CMU starts the week atop the conference with 22 points and they are 8-1-3 overall.
• They lead the RMAC by scoring 2.08 goals per game and have a 0.71 GAA.
• Roy Abergil leads the conference with 15 goals and 31 points.
 
Match Facts: CSU-Pueblo
• CSU-Pueblo leads the all-time series 8-3-2.
• The ThunderWolves defeated the Griffins 3-1 last season at Dumke Field.
• CSUP is currently seventh in the standings with nine points and they sit at 5-7 overall.
• They are scoring 1.08 goals per game and have a 1.65 GAA.
• Miles Sanchez leads CSUP with five goals.
 
Looking Ahead
• Westminster returns home next weekend to play its final two home games of the season. They will host UCCS on October 21 at 3 p.m. and then face MSU Denver on October 23 at 1 p.m. Tickets for both games are available at WestminsterGriffins.com/tickets.