SIUE will battle for top spot in GLVC this weekend

Branden Peterson
Sports Reporter

The men's soccer team is crowded at the top of the conference standings, being tied for first with Lewis University and Quincy University.

The Cougars will try to extend their three-game winning streak into the postseason by beating Quincy University and the University of Southern Indiana.

"There's a natural high that we're all involved with, and we're looking to take it high with a couple a victories this weekend," head coach Ed Huneke said.

SIUE is also ranked third in the region and 25th in the nation.

"We're getting recognized nationally, and it's the time to do it," Huneke said.

On Friday the Cougars will play No. 1-ranked Quincy, which has two of the top scorers in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.

Quincy's Matt Vollink is No. 1 in scoring and goals, with 36 points and 16 goals so far this season.

Juan Tortosa is tied for third in scoring with 20 points and eight goals.

"They like to go forward really quickly, and we have a good attitude about attacking the goal early," Huneke said.

The second game this weekend is at home against Southern Indiana.

Southern Indiana is ranked fourth in the GLVC and has a solid team with players like Ed Pieper and Robbie Haigh.

Pieper leads the team in scoring with nine points and four goals.

Robbie Haigh is the team's leading goalkeeper with 64 saves and two shutouts.

This is perhaps the biggest weekend of the year for the Cougars. If SIUE wins both games this weekend, the wins should put it at the top of the GLVC standings.

And if Lewis loses one game this weekend, the Cougars will be at the top of the standings, will get a first-round bye and will be host for the semifinals and finals of the conference tournament.

If SIUE and Lewis win both their games this weekend, Lewis will be No. 1 because it beat both SIUE and Quincy earlier this season.

"This is what big-time athletes really enjoy. When we're playing well against good teams, with a lot on the line. This is the ultimate in sports," Huneke said.

All three teams still have a shot at the No. 1 spot going into this weekend.

It just depends on who wins and who doesn't.

Friday's game is at Quincy and Sunday's game is at 12:30 p.m. at Bob Guelker Field....