The Malone University men's soccer team returns to Hazen Field for two of their final three matches of the 2019 season this weekend. On Thursday, October 31, the Pioneers take on the University of Findlay Oilers beginning at 1 pm, followed by a Saturday matinee versus the Tiffin University Dragons on November 2 at 2 pm. Prior to Saturday's game, the seven Pioneer seniors will be honored for Senior Day: Nick Wilhelm, Jonathan Dendinger, Jeff Kreinbrook, Gino Finelli, Nick Fry, Stephen Radonjich and Jake Martell.
 
Currently in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference standings, Malone sits in the eighth and final spot to achieve post-season berth into the G-MAC Tournament. The Pioneers hold a four point lead over ninth-place Ohio Dominican with three games left to play for both squads.
 
Follow Along:
Malone vs Findlay
Thursday, October 31 at 1 pm
Live Video/Stats: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/malone/
 
Malone vs Tiffin (Senior Day)
Saturday, November 2 at 2 pm
Live Video/Stats: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/malone/
 
Series History:
Malone holds a record of 16-7-1 all-time against the Oilers. In 2018, Malone upended Findlay 1-0 after a goal from Jake Martell in a game where the Pioneers were outshot 30-8.
 
Tiffin has fared much better than Findlay has against the Pioneers head-to-head. Malone holds an 8-26-1 record versus Tiffin. The Dragons defeated the Pioneers 2-1 last season.
 
Malone Team Notes: Schedule | Roster | Statistics
Record: 4-5-4 (3-5-3)
 
Last weekend saw the Pioneers pick up two points through draws against Cedarville (1-1) and Ohio Dominican (2-2). In both games, the Pioneers scored late goals to prevent a regulation loss.
 
A throw in from Jamal Rasheed and a pass from Nathan McFeaters to Patrick Alvarez in the middle of the field set up the game-tying goal at home versus Cedarville last Thursday. In the follow-up performance on Saturday, Alvarez found McFeaters this time with a beautiful cross as McFeaters who outjumped two defenders to head the ball home and knot the game up at two.
 
In their last five matches, Malone is 3-0-2. It is the longest stretch without a loss since 2004. This is the best the Pioneer offense has looked this season, scoring over two goals per game over that span. McFeaters has 10 goals this season, the most for a Pioneer player since Kelvin Aquino in 2011. He is tied for the G-MAC lead in goals scored.
 
In the 2-2 draw against Ohio Dominican, Evan Dekker netted his first career goal off of a penalty kick in the 19th minute. This comes exactly one week after Jeff Kreinbrook put a shot in the back of the net for the first time in his Pioneer tenure.
 
The defensive unit of Nick Fry, Jonathan Dendinger, Dekker and Alvarez have each logged over 1,200 minutes on the pitch this season and have combined to take 44 shots.
 
Alexandre Durand and Nick Wilhelm have split time in net this season. Durand has totaled 37 saves in nine games and Wilhelm 28 in five games.
 
Findlay Team Notes: Schedule | Roster | Statistics
Record: 8-5-1 (5-5-1)
 
Findlay holds the sixth spot in the conference standings, but positions three through seven are separated by just one point and could easily find themselves hosting a first round match if they earn a three or four seed or playing one of the top G-MAC opponents if they remain at six or fall to seven.
 
The Oilers hold the highest scoring offense in the G-MAC, scoring 2.43 goals per game. Surprisingly, they have the highest scoring percentage in the league, yet are fifth in shots, averaging 14.79 shots per match.
 
Malone and Findlay are tied with 67 saves each. Findlay has recorded four shutouts to Malone's two.
 
Josh Dickinson is tied with McFeaters for the G-MAC lead in goals scored with 10. Dickinson has taken 54 shots, which is second most in the conference. He has contributed offensively through passing the ball and has four assists as well. His 24 total points leads the league individually.
 
Josh Hales is another huge offensive weapon for Findlay this season with eight goals and four game-winning goals.
 
Freshman David Hug holds the team lead in assists with five.
 
The Oilers have had a pair of freshmen goalkeepers in games this season. Andrew Boulton has started 11 games and Garrett Arbogast has started Findlay's most recent games and has appeared in five matches in 2019. Boulton has made 41 saves and Arbogast has totaled 26.
 
Tiffin Team Notes: Schedule | Roster | Statistics
Record: 7-4-3 (5-4-2)
 
Tiffin is in the middle of the same traffic jam as Findlay in the meat of the conference playoff picture. The Dragons are fifth in the standings with 17 points heading into this weekend's matches. Before facing the Pioneers on Saturday, Tiffin will have a tough test against Walsh, who has an identical conference record as the Dragons at 5-4-2. The Dragons are sliding of late, and are 0-3-1 in their last four games.
 
Offensively, Tiffin has the third highest scoring average in the G-MAC at 2.14 goals per game. Tiffin also boasts the second-lowest goals allowed average in the league at .71 per goals scored by opponents per match. The Dragons flex their muscles defensively by having the conference's fewest team saves at 37, showing that opponents are not penetrating the defense to get shots on goal.
 
Leo Hasenstab is tied for second in the conference in goals scored this season with nine. He holds the team lead in total shots with 37 and shots on goal with 20.
 
Darren Appanah is another offensive threat for the Dragons. He has netted five goals in 2019, as well as three apiece from Eduardo Carvalho and Joel Daly.
 
As a team, Tiffin is second in the G-MAC in assists with 25. The Dragons are led by Lukas Manneck with five assists, Abdoul Magid Sy with four and Carvalho with three.
 
In goal, Dylan Morris has started all 14 matches for the Dragons this season and has recorded seven shutouts, good for second most in the G-MAC and tied for seventh in all of NCAA Division II.