CLINTON, Miss. --- The Mississippi College men's soccer team will take to the road this weekend for a two-game Gulf South Conference road slate. The Choctaws will take on the University of West Florida on Friday, Sept. 22, and Spring Hill College on Sunday, Sept. 24.
 
MC NOTES

• The Choctaws (5-0-1, 2-0 GSC) find themselves in a tie for first place in the GSC Standing with Alabama Huntsville. In MC's most recent action last weekend, the Choctaws bested Shorter University 4-0 on Friday, Sept. 15 and defeated Lee University 2-1 on Sunday, Sept. 17.
• The Choctaws debuted at number 25 in the most recent United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division II Poll released on Tuesday (Sept. 19). The appearance in the poll marked for the first appearance for MC in the weekly rankings since joining Division II. The Choctaws also checked in at number four in the United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division II South Regional Rankings, the highest ranking for any GSC-affiliated team.
• Senior Horacio Gutierrez Jr. and Freshman Victor Bazan were both recognized as top weekly performers in the conference in the past week. Gutierrez, who netted three goals over the course of last weekend's action, was named the GSC Player of the Week. Bazan, who accounted for both a goal and an assist in last weekend's GSC slate, was named the GSC Freshman of the Week. The award for Bazan marked the second time in as many weeks that Bazan was named the top freshman performer in the conference.
• The Choctaws head into this weekend's action sitting alone atop the conference in virtually every offensive stat category. Through six games, MC leads the GSC in shots taken (110), shots per game (18.33), shots on goal (51), shots on goal per game (8.5), goals (15), goals per game (2.5), game-winning goals (5), points (43), points per game (7.17), assists (13) and assists per game (2.167).
• Gutierrez currently paces both the Choctaws and the GSC in goals scored (5), total points (10) and game-winning goals (2).
• Senior Jacob Farthing's leads the Choctaws with three assists on the year, a mark that also paces the GSC. Farthing also sits tied for the team lead and GSC lead with Gutierrez with two game-winning goals on the season.
• On the defensive side of the ball, the Choctaws have allowed just five goals over the course of six games. Senior goalkeeper Humberto Pelaez currently sports a goals against average of 0.804, a mark that ranks third among GSC keepers. Pelaez (5-0-1) also ranks third in the conference in save percentage (0.853), saves (29) and shutouts (2) on the year.
• With two wins last weekend, Pelaez upped his career win total to 27; a mark that ranks third all-time in program history. Pelaez needs just four more wins in goal to become the MC leader in career wins.
• Pelaez currently sits third all-time in program history with 224 saves. Pelaez needs just 12 more saves to move into sole possession of second place in MC history.

 
WEST FLORIDA NOTES

• The Argonauts (1-3, 0-2 GSC) are coming off of an opening weekend of GSC action that saw them fall 2-1 at West Alabama on Friday, Sept. 15 and drop a 1-0 decision to Alabama Huntsville on Sunday, Sept. 17.
• Through four games, West Florida has scored four goals, for an average of one per contest.
• Rafael Gadio leads the Argonauts with two goals scored on the year. Sean Hofstatter , Jacob Murray, and Owen Munro, all pace West Florida with one assist apiece.
• The Argonaut defense has allowed seven goals through their four matches in 2017, for an average of 1.75 allowed per contest.
• In goal, Jacob Murray has started and played in all four games for the Argonauts. Murray (1-3) brings a goals against average of 1.52 into Friday's match.

 
SPRING HILL NOTES

• The Badgers (2-2, 1-1 GSC) head into Sunday's matchup coming off of a 3-1 loss at Alabama Huntsville on Friday, Sept.15 and a 2-0 victory over West Alabama on Sunday, Sept. 17.
• Offensively, Spring Hill has recorded 10 goals through four games, for an average of 2.50 per contest. The Badgers have taken 56 shots on the season, averaging 14 shots per match. Twenty-six of the 56 shots taken by Spring Hill have been on goal on the season.
• Alexander Lipinski leads the Badger attack, with 11 points and five goals scored on the season. Tilman Schober leads the Badgers with three assists in 2017.
• On defense, the Badgers have allowed six goals in their four matches in 2017, for an average of 1.5 per game, while giving up an average of 10.5 shots per contest.
• In Goal, Geraldo Bina posts a goals against average of 1.30 in four matches of action. Bina (2-2) is responsible for the Badgers lone shutout in 2017.
• Prior to their match vs. MC, Spring Hill will host Delta State on Friday, Sept. 15.

 
MATCH COVERAGE

• Friday's match at West Florida is scheduled to begin at 5:00 p.m., while Sunday's match at Spring Hill will begin at 3:30 p.m.
• Live stats and streaming video will be available for the West Florida match on Friday, while live stats will be available for the Spring Hill match on Sunday. 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.