NEW ORLEANS - At the midway point of Sun Belt action West Virginia sits on top of the league standings with just five games left in the regular season.
FOUR IN THE TOP 25
For the fifth consecutive week four Sun Belt men’s soccer teams are ranked in the United Soccer Coaches Poll. West Virginia (9-1-2, 4-0) moved up to No. 3, Marshall (6-1-4, 3-1) stands at No. 12, Georgia Southern (9-2-1, 2-2) No. 24 and Kentucky (6-2-3, 3-1) No. 25.
THE LAST OF THE UNDEFEATED
West Virginia has opened conference play with four straight victories, making them the only team unbeaten in league play. The Mountaineers went unbeaten in league play last season (5-0-4). They boast the leagues points leaders in Marcus Calderia (seven goals, seven assists) and Pablo Pozos (10 goals, one assist) who each have 21. Marc Bonnaire is steady in goal with .917 goals against average and six shutouts.
LOOKING AT THE WIN COLUMN
No. 24 Georgia Southern has lost two straight Sun Belt matches after winning their first two and look to return to the win column. They kick off the weekend slate of Sun Belt games as they host Coastal Carolina (1-7, 0-4) on Friday night. Forward Ricky Louis leaders the Eagles and is second in the league in goals with seven, a .833 per game average. Louis is fifth in the league in total points with 15.
KNIGHTS RISING
UCF (5-5-1, 2-2) has won its last three matches with victories over South Carolina, Georgia Southern and Bradley. After taking down a ranked Georgia Southern team forward Clarence Awoudor and goal keeper Juanvi Munoz earned Sun Belt offensive and defensive player of the week honors. Awoudor is also earning national attention with a NCAA D1 leading nine assists on the season. For Munoz his shutout versus Georgia Southern lowered his season goals-against average to 1.20 and pushed his save percentage up to .714 through his first 10 matches this season.
SBC IN THE RPI
Seven of the Sun Belts 10 teams were ranked within the top 100 of the most recent RPI rankings. West Virginia (9), Marshall (19), Georgia Southern (26), UCF (48), Kentucky (56), South Carolina (66) and James Madison (86).
INDIVIDUAL STAT LEADERS
POINTS: Marcus Caldeira, WVU, 21
GOALS: Pablo Pozoz, WVU, 10
ASSISTS: Clarence Awoudor, UCF, 11
SHOTS: Ethan Ballek, SC, 42
SHOTS ON GOAL: Marcus Caldeira, WVU, 18
SAVES: Loan Marin, GSU, 45
SAVE PERCENTAGE: Erik Jaspers, JMU, .821
GOALS AGAINST AVG: Nate Martinez, GS, .750
TEAM STAT LEADERS
POINTS: West Virginia, 88
GOALS: West Virginia, 28
ASSISTS: West Virginia, 32
SHOTS: Old Dominion. 175
SHOTS ON GOAL: Old Dominion, 87
SAVES: James Madison, 48
SAVE PERCENTAGE: Georgia Southern, .795
GOALS AGAINST AVG: Georgia Southern, .750