RMAC Opening Weekend on tap for Griffins
The Westminster men's soccer team will begin Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play this weekend with a pair of conference games in Colorado. The Griffins (1-2) play at University of Colorado Colorado Springs on Friday at 7 p.m. They will then visit Metropolitan State University of Denver on Sunday at 1 p.m.
 
Both games of the road trip will be broadcast live on the RMAC Network and will be produced by the host institution. Fans can also follow the action with live stats. Links for all live features are available at WestminsterGriffins.com/live.
 
About the Griffins
Westminster will begin conference play after posting a 1-2 mark in non-conference action. They have recorded an 0-1 mark in road games and went 1-1 on a neutral site. The Griffins enter having lost the last game they played and with a 1-0 mark in overtime contests.
 
The team is scoring 1.33 goals per game to rank fifth in the RMAC and they have scored a goal in all three games this season. The Griffins are taking 8.7 shots per contest with 53.8 percent of those attempts on goal. They have taken 15 corner kicks and been whistled offsides seven times.
 
Preston McIllece leads the Griffins with two goals and four points. Cristian Alfaro and Hunter Kone have each tallied one goal and one assist for three points. Jonnathan Rodriguez has one assist. Alfaro leads the team with six shots and four shots on goal.
 
Westminster has recorded a 2.66 goals-against-average through the first three games. Griffin keepers have made nine saves for a .529 save percentage. Opponents are taking 12.0 shots per game and putting 47.2 percent of those on frame.
 
Max Medley has made two starts on the season with a 1-1 record. He has a 1.99 GAA and six saves for a .600 save percentage. Sean Lyne has played in one game with a 4.00 GAA and .333 save percentage.
 
Looking Back
• Westminster split a pair of games in Idaho last weekend to close the non-conference season. The Griffins claimed a 2-1 win over Hawaii Hilo when Hunter Kone scored 47 seconds into the first overtime period. They then fell behind early and lost to Northwest Nazarene, 4-1, in the final of the road trip. Preston McIllece scored the Griffins' lone goal in the game.
 
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.
 
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.
 
Freshman Jitters?
• Preston McIllece has scored a pair of goal in his first three collegiate games. The freshman currently leads the team with those two goals and he is fourth in the RMAC by scoring 0.67 goals per game. McIllece has taken five shots on the season with his two goals being the only ones on target.
 
No Experience Needed
• Cristian Alfaro has opened his collegiate career with one goal and one assist in his first three games. Alfaro scored the equalizing goal against Hawaii Hilo to go with his assists against Eastern New Mexico in the season opener. Alfaro leads the team with six shots and four shots on goal.
 
Spark Off the Bench
• Hunter Kone has provided the Griffins with some offense power coming off the bench this season. The sophomore has been a reserve in all three games and has one goal and one assist on the year. Kone scored the overtime winner against Hawaii Hilo and had the assist in the game at NNU. In just 119 minute of play, Kone has taken four shots with two on goal.
 
Match Facts: UCCS
• UCCS leads the all-time series with the Griffins 9-6.
• The Mountain Lions swept the two meetings last season, outscoring the Griffins 4-1.
• UCCS is 1-2-1 overall this season and 1-0-1 at home. They enter having dropped two straight games.
• They are averaging 1.25 goals per game with a 2.08 GAA.
• JJ Meyer leads the team with three points.
 
Match Facts: MSU Denver
• MSU Denver leads the all-time series against Westminster 13-3-1.
• The Roadrunners ourtscored the Griffins 6-3 in sweeping two games last season.
• They begin the weekend with a 2-2 overall record and they are 1-1 at home.
• As a team, they are scoring 1.25 goals per game with a 1.75 GAA.
• Josh Belfrage and Kevin Beck are tied for the team lead with four points.
 
Looking Ahead
It's back home next weekend for the Griffins as they host a pair of conference games. Colorado Mesa comes to Dumke on September 23 with Regis making the trip on September 25. Tickets for all home games are available at WestminsterGriffins.com/tickets.