CLINTON, Miss. --- The Mississippi College men's soccer team will open up Gulf South Conference play this weekend, when they face off against Shorter University on Friday, Sept. 15, and Lee University on Sunday, Sept. 17.
 
MC NOTES

• The Choctaws (3-0-1) head into GSC play after picking up two wins over the course of last weekend. MC knocked off #15 Ouachita Baptist 4-2 on Friday, Sept. 8 and shut out Harding University 2-0 on Sunday, Sept. 10.
• The Choctaws were receiving votes in the latest United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division II Poll released on Tuesday, Sept. 12, while moving up to number four in the south regional rankings.
• Senior Jacob Farthing and freshman Victor Bazan were both awarded with GSC weekly accolades as a result of their efforts last week.  Faarthing, who netted two goals in MC's successful weekend slate, garnered GSC Player of the Week honors. Bazan was named the GSC Freshman of the week after recording his first collegiate goal and assist over the weekend.
• The MC attack heads into this weekend's GSC action leading the conference in virtually every offensive category. The Choctaws lead the GSC in shots taken (82), shots per game (20.5), shots on goal (38), shots on goal per game (9.5), goals (9), goals per game (2.25), and assists (9).
• Michael Kuwornu (12), Farthing (11), and Bastian Busch (10) all rank in the top five in the conference in shots taken. Kuwornu's 12 shots taken marks for a GSC best.
• Farthing currently leads all GSC athletes in points (7), goals (2) assists (3), and game-winning goals (2). Senior Horacio Gutierrez Jr. and sophomore Connor Johnson both have also tallied two goals in 2017, placing them in a tie with Farthing for most goals among GSC players. Johnson's five total points place him directly behind Farthing for second in the conference.
• Bazan, Dinho Zwane, and Marco Profumo have all recorded a goal on the season, while Bazan, Zwane, Johnson, Kuwornu, Rafael Costa and Julio Moreno have all logged an assist for MC on the year.
• The Choctaw defense, led by senior goalkeeper Humberto Pelaez, has allowed just four goals in four games. The Choctaw netminder brings a goal against average of 0.95 into this weekend's action. Pelaez (3-0-1) has recorded one shutout so far in 2017, and ranks second among GSC keepers with a save percentage of 84 percent.

 
SHORTER NOTES

• Shorter brings an 0-4 record into Friday's GSC season-opener. In their most recent contest, the Hawks fell 2-1 to Dalton State in double overtime on Thursday, Sept. 7.
• The Hawks have scored six goals in four games, for an average of 1.5 per contest. Shorter has taken 32 shots, with 19 on frame, through four games.
• Justen Macias of the Hawks ranks second in the Conference in points (5) and is tied for the conference lead in goals scored (2).
• The Shorter defense has allowed 15 goals through their opening four-game slate, including three matches that have seen the Hawks give up at least four goals. The Hawks are currently allowing 3.75 goals per contest.
• Sean Carpenter has started in all four matches for the Hawks, while compiling a goals against average of 3.48

 
LEE NOTES

• Lee University (1-1-2) heads into this weekend's action coming off of a 1-0 loss against Young Harris on Tuesday, Sept. 12.
• The Flames sit in second place behind the Choctaws on the offensive side of the ball in total shots (46) and total shots per game (11.5).
• The Flames have tallied three goals in four games of action, averaging for 0.75 goals per contest.
• Drew Jackson of the Flames sits tied for first place with MC's Kuwornu for most shots taken on the season (12). Jackson also ranks tied for first in total goals scored (2).  
• The Flame defense currently sits atop the GSC in goals allowed per game, with an average of 0.75.  While the flames have given up only three goals through four games, they have allotted 72 shots and 28 shots on goal for the year.
• Flames goalkeeper Tristen Putnam currently leads the conference in goals against average (0.675), saves (25), save percentage (0.893), saves per game (6.25) and shutouts. Putnam has seen all 400 minutes of action in goal for the Flames.
• Prior to Sunday's match against MC, the Flames will open up GSC play against Delta State on Friday, Sept, 15.

 
SERIES NOTES

• The Choctaws bring an all-time record of 1-1-1 against Shorter and a program mark of 1-3 against Lee. In their most recent matchups in 2016, the Choctaws fell 1-0 at Lee, and played to a scoreless draw at Shorter that helped clinch the GSC Regular Season Title.

 
MATCH COVERAGE

• Friday's match at Shorter is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., while Sunday's tilt at Lee is slated to begin at 3:00 p.m.
• Live stats will be available for the Shorter contest, and live stats and streaming video will be available for the match versus Lee. Links for coverage of both matches can be found through the MC athletic website.

 

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Mississippi College is a private Christian university located in Clinton, Mississippi with an enrollment of over 5,000 students. MC is recently finished their transition process back to NCAA Division II and the Gulf South Conference and will be competing for conference and national championships in the 2016-17 academic year.
 
The athletic department sponsors 17 intercollegiate athletic programs: Baseball, Men's and Women's Basketball, Men's and Women's Cross Country, Football, Golf, Men's and Women's Soccer, Softball, Men's and Women's Tennis, Men's and Women's Indoor Track & Field, Men's and Women's Outdoor Track & Field and Volleyball.
 
For more information on Mississippi College athletics, please contact David Nichols at 601-925-3234 or nichols@mc.edu.