The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) announced on Thursday that Saturday's conference match between the No. 15 Raven men's soccer team and the Central Methodist University Eagles will be the NAIA Men's Soccer Game of the Week.

CMU, who is receiving votes in the latest Coaches' Poll comes to campus for a 7:30 p.m. match on Saturday. Saturday also marks the Ravens annual Senior Night, with the members of the Raven Senior Class being recognized immediately after the women's match concludes.


Benedictine has owned the Eagles lately, with a nine-game winning streak in the series. During this streak, the Ravens have out-scored the team from Fayette, Mo., by a 22-6 score. The last series win for Central Methodist came on Sept. 20, 2003, 1-0, in Atchison, Kan.


Both clubs look to keep up the early pace in the Heart of America Athletic Conference standings. There are two other teams tied with Benedictine and Central Methodist at No. 1 with a 1-0 record, No. 7 MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) and Graceland (Iowa).


Riding a five-match winning streak and a nine-match unbeaten streak overall, the Ravens have owned a 23-2 scoring advantage since falling in their season opener back on Aug. 24. Their latest victim was Culver-Stockton (Mo.) on Sept. 29 in a 4-0 shutout.


With a 4-2 road record this year, the Eagles are in the midst of a six-match road trip. The game on Saturday marks the fifth one in that stretch.


Benedictine is 3-1-2 thus far at its home pitch. The only loss came in the season-opener at the hands of Jamestown (N.D.), who is currently 10-1 on the year.


The Ravens have displayed a tough defense this year, ranking second in the NAIA in total shutouts (7). Keeper Taylor Vinnage (Soph., Overland Park) is sixth in goals against average (0.530). Offensively, Joe Sbarro (Jr., Kansas City, Mo.) is tops on the team in goals (9) and points (18). Kenneth Clarizio (Soph., Denver) is the team leader with five assists.


Central Methodist is coming off a 2-1 road win at Baker (Kan.) on Sept. 30. Baker was ranked No. 2 in the Preseason Top 25. Three players have at least three goals, led by the five off the foot of Guilherme Frota. German Schact is the team's main goalkeeper with a 5-0-1 record with 17 saves and a 0.830 goals against average.

Saturday's match will be live on both BRSN radio and BRSNtv. Livestats will also be available on the NAIA Stats page, courtesy of Dakstats.

Information for this released was compiled by the NAIA. The complete NAIA Men's Soccer Weekly Report is available on the men's soccer home page on the NAIA's website.