LAKELAND, Fla. - An unfortunate result in the Sun Conference opener has the Fire hungry in hopes of snapping their three game-skid. The Fire will take on a Warner team that they have not lost to since 2013, as well as Johnson and Wales, who they fell to in last year's meeting. One win may jump start the Fire and set them up for a potential streak similar to that of last year when they rattled off six wins in seven contests.
MATCH INFO
Date: September 27 & 30, 2017
Times: 7 p.m. & 2 p.m.
Locations: Lake Wales, Fla. & North Miami, Fla.
Live Video/Stats: Game 1 Game 2
ROYALS SERIES INFO
Overall: WU leads 9-6
Streak: SEU has won 5
Lakeland: WU leads 5-3
Lake Wales: WU leads 4-3
First Meeting: September 14, 2002
WILDCAT SERIES INFO
Overall: SEU leads 5-3
Streak: JWU has won 2
Lakeland: SEU leads 2-1
North Miami: SEU leads 3-2
First Meeting: September 24, 2009
SOUTHEASTERN FIRE
2017 Record: 1-4
2017 Sun Conference Record: 0-1
Head Coach:
Clay Roberts
SEU: 35-21-2 (4th Season)
2017 STAT LEADERS
Goals: T. Salgado, Van Der Luit, (3)
Assists: Jimenez (4)
Points: T. Sagado, Van Der Luit, Jimenez (6)
Saves: Navarrete (22)
WARNER ROYALS
2017 Record: 2-2-2
2017 Sun Conference Record: 1-1
Head Coach: Drew Stacey
WU: 13-38-4
2017 STAT LEADERS
Goals: Rodriguez, Diaz, Francois, and T. Shaner (2)
Assists: Monestime (2)
Points: Rodriguez, Diaz, Francois, and T. Shaner (5)
Saves: Ardilla (15)
JOHNSON & WALES WILDCATS
2017 Record: 4-1
2017 Sun Conference Record: 1-0
Head Coach: Phil Zayas
JWU: 8-7-1 (2nd Season)
2017 STAT LEADERS
Goals: Este (3)
Assists: Derine (2)
Saves: Della Porta (13)
Going into this week the Fire have their backs against the wall. Although they are taking on their cross-county rival in the Royals, the Fire have commanded the series in the recent years which makes this match an outstanding opportunity to bounce back on the right foot.
During the span of the four game winning streak, the Fire have outscored the Royals 21-3. Both
Jonathan Jimenez and
Luke Marchesani aided their teams in the past two victories. In the 2016 matchup, Jimenez, the midfielder prepped at Tampa Bay Tech, seized a pair of goals in the 6-0 victory. Dating back two years, Marchesani collected three points against the Royals with a goal and an assist to his name.
The Royals will counter with an offense composed of several goal scorers. In the midst of their 13-0 routing over Johnson University, the Royals had 10 different goal scorers. More recently, the Royals battled Bethany of Kansas and knotted the game up at one in the late minutes where it would remain throughout the duration of double overtime.
Goalkeeping is an area of weakness for the Royals. Thus far the Royals have utilized three different net minders who have surrendered 15 combined goals, six of which came in their latest loss against St. Thomas.
The Wildcats are a team that seems to be firing on all cylinders. After dropping their season opener, Johnson & Wales rallied off four straight wins to include one over NCAA Division II opponent Nova Southeastern.
Johnson & Wales' attack is led by Jeronimo Este who has tallied the most goals on the team. Listed as a defender, Jeronimo is rather accurate on net with four of his seven shots being on target.
The Wildcats are coming off of a 2-0 win of the Webber Warriors. Greg McDoom, the native of Winter Garden, Florida, recorded both goals for the Wildcats in dramatic fashion.
For updates on the action, Follow @SEUFireMSoccer on Twitter.
