EOU Men’s Soccer Opens 2017 Campaign Friday

LA GRANDE, Ore. – The EOU men's soccer team heads into its third season after notching the program's first winning season in 2016.

With a total of 12 newcomers on this year's roster, first-year head coach Kenny Huber and the Mountaineers officially kick off the 2017 campaign this Friday at 11 a.m. Mountain Time against Embry-Riddle (Ariz.) in Caldwell, Idaho.

EOU capped off the year with an overall mark of 11-6-1 but finished 6-6-1 in the Cascade Collegiate Conference. In the end, it came down to the last day of the season when the Mounties ultimately missed out on conference postseason play due to a tiebreaker.

In 2017, the Blue and Gold will be challenged with a difficult slate to start off the month of September facing two NCAA Division III opponents. EOU will face Whitman College on Sept. 1 followed by Whitworth on Sept. 11. One week later, the squad will travel to Portland, Ore., for their first CCC game versus Warner Pacific On Sept. 16 before hosting Northwest on Sept.22 for the home opener.

Despite graduating eight seniors in 2016, EOU returns with a bolstered lineup filled with talent at the midfield position and a backline who finished tied for third in the CCC in goals allowed (1.00).

All-CCC Second Team player Steven Beaudry will look to control the middle of the pitch while defensive stalwart and All-CCC Honorable Mention defender Jorge Chavez anchors the EOU backline.

EOU will look to answer its question marks at both the keeper and forward positions. One of the eight players who graduated this past summer was former keeper Alfredo Lara. Lara capped off his two years at EOU with a lifetime 1.19 career GAA along with 108 saves in 29 appearances.

On offense, All-CCC First Team forward Elvis Pavon will redshirt his junior season. Pavon led the CCC in shots per game (5.2) in 2016 and his team-high nine goals were fourth in the conference.

In October, EOU faces two teams currently ranked inside the top-25. The Mounties visit No. 20 Rocky Mountain on Oct.22 before hosting No. 10 Corban for the final home game of the season on Oct. 28.

A link to live statistics for the Mounties' season opener against Embry-Riddle will be available at eousports.com.

2016 Team Achievements
First winning season
One First-Team All-CCC
One Second-Team All-CCC
One CCC Honorable Mention
Largest margin of victory vs. any opponent (Walla Walla 16-0)

2016 CCC TEAM RANKINGS
No. 1 in shots (374)
No. 2 in goals (52)
No. 4 in assists (32)
No. 3 in goals allowed/game (1.00)
No. 13 in saves (47)

2016 STATISTICAL LEADERS
Goals: Pavon (9)
Assists: Munoz, Peregrina (4)
Points: Pavon (21)
Shots: Pavon (78)
Shots on Goal: Pavon (28)
Game-Winners: Hoiem, Wells, Pavon (2)
Saves: Lara 41
Goals-Against Average: Wright (.270)
Wins: Lara (8)

For more information on Eastern Oregon men's soccer, follow @EOUAthletics or visit eousports.com.

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Contact: Iain Dexter; 541-962-3946; idexter@eou.edu

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Players Mentioned

#00 Alfredo Lara: GK; 5' 11"; Senior

#3 Steven Beaudry: D/MF; 5' 6"; Junior

#14 Jorge Chavez: MF; 6' 0"; Redshirt Sophomore

#RS Elvis Pavon: F; 5' 9"; Redshirt Junior

Players Mentioned

#00 Alfredo Lara
: 5' 11"; Senior
: GK

#3 Steven Beaudry
: 5' 6"; Junior
: D/MF

#14 Jorge Chavez
: 6' 0"; Redshirt Sophomore
: MF

#RS Elvis Pavon
: 5' 9"; Redshirt Junior
: F

Eastern Oregon University Athletics

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EOU Men’s Soccer Opens 2017 Campaign Friday

Players Mentioned

#00 Alfredo Lara

#3 Steven Beaudry

#14 Jorge Chavez

#RS Elvis Pavon

Players Mentioned

#00 Alfredo Lara

#3 Steven Beaudry

#14 Jorge Chavez

#RS Elvis Pavon