Griffins Home for Two RMAC Games This Weekend
The Westminster men's soccer team plays a pair of Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference games at Dumke Field this weekend. The Griffins start the action on Friday against Colorado Christian at 3 p.m. They will then face Colorado School of Mines on Sunday at 1 p.m.
 
Both of this week's games will be carried live on the RMAC Network with David Winkworth calling the action. The RMAC Network is available online at RMACsports.tv. There will also be live stats available during each contest. Links for all live features can be found at WestminsterGriffins.com/live.
 
Tickets for the two games are now available at WestminsterGriffins.com/tickets.
 
About the Griffins
Westminster enters the week at 2-7 overall and 1-5 in RMAC action. They are currently tied for seventh in the conference race with three points. They are 0-3 at Dumke Field this season with all three losses coming in conference action.
 
The Griffins are currently averaging 0.89 goals per game, having scored eight total goals. They are taking 7.22 shots per game and they put 55.4 percent of those shots on goal. They rank eighth in the RMAC by taking 4.78 corner kicks per contest and they have scored one penalty kick.
 
Cristian Alfaro currently leads the team with six points having tallied two goals and two assists. He has taken a team-best 15 shots and put 10 of those chances on goal. Preston McIllece has also scored two goals and ranks second on the team with four points. Hunter Kone and Jordan Jones have each scored one goal and recorded one assist for three points.
 
The Griffins have a team goals-against-average of 2.33 and they have posted a .618 save percentage. The team is averaging 3.78 saves per game with opponents taking 15.6 shots per game. The opposition is putting 39.3 percent of those chances on goal and taking 5.1 corners per game.
 
Max Medley has made seven starts in goal with a 2.05 GAA and .632 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 last comeback victory for the Griffins was a 2-1 win over Saint Ambrose on October 13, 2013.
 
Halftime Adjustments
• The Griffins have scored all eight of their goals this season after the halftime intermission. They have also done a better job defensively in the final 45 minutes as opponents have scored nine goals after the break compared to 12 in the opening half.
 
No Experience Needed
• Cristian Alfaro leads the team with six points behind his two goals and two assists on the season. Alfaro also leads the team in shots with 15 and shots on goal with 10. Alfaro has attempted at least one shot in every game this season and has a shot on goal in eight straight outings.
 
Freshman Jitters?
• Preston McIllece has scored a pair of goals from his defensive position this season. The freshman has attempted six shots with his two goals being is only shots on frame. McIllece leads all Griffins with 811 minutes played.
 
Taking Over in Goal
• Max Medley has assumed the position of starting keeper and has started the last four games and seven games overall this season. Medley ranks eighth in the RMAC with a 2.05 goals-against-average. The sophomore makes 3.43 saves per game to rank sixth in the conference while pointing a .632 save percentage. He recorded his first career shutout in a 1-0 win at Adams State on September 30.
 
Match Facts: Colorado Christian
• Westminster leads the all-time series 11-4-1.
• The Griffins defeated the Cougars 1-0 last season in Colorado.
• CCU comes to Salt Lake at 1-9 overall this season and 1-5 in RMAC games.
• They are last in the conference by scoring 0.60 goals per game with a 3.19 GAA.
• Blake Goodale leads the Cougars with three goals and 21 shots.
 
Match Facts: Colorado School of Mines
• Colorado Mines is 9-5-2 all-time against the Griffins.
• The Orediggers beat the Griffins 6-0 last season in Colorado.
• CSM starts the week at 5-3-2 overall and 4-1-1 in conference.
• They average a conference-best 2.1 goals per game with a 0.57 GAA.
• Trevor Amann is second in the RMAC with seven goals.
 
Looking Ahead
• Next week sees the Griffins making a trip to Colorado for two RMAC games. They play at Colorado Mesa on October 12 before playing at Colorado State-Pueblo on October 16.