ROCHESTER, Mich. – Men's Soccer gears up for their most important two-game stretch of the season, which also happens to be their final two matches, as they look to improve their postseason position with home contests against Wright State and IU Indy.
The current Horizon League standings are jam-packed on the men's side, with just five points separating second place from last. Oakland currently holds sole possession of sixth place with nine points.
A 2-0 win in their last match against Northern Kentucky helped the Golden Grizzlies move into postseason position. Defender
Miller Knestrict has been shining for Oakland in his last pair of games, assuming a starting role in the back line while also scoring his first career goal in the win over the Norse.
Forward
Andriy Bilous also continued to make an impact against the Norse, tallying his second goal of the season and his third assist, tying
Marco Mazzei for the team lead.
FRIDAY, OCT. 31 vs WRIGHT STATE | 1 PM | ESPN+
The Golden Grizzlies take on the Raiders this weekend. Despite a 2-11-1 overall record, Wright State's 2-5 mark in conference play keeps them within striking distance of a playoff spot, though they currently sit at the bottom of the Horizon League standings.
Wright State has dropped four of its last five matches, including a 1-0 loss to Green Bay last time out. Defensively, the Raiders have struggled this season, allowing a league-high 31 goals.
Historically, the Golden Grizzlies have gotten the best of Wright State, holding an 11-5-3 record in the all-time series, including wins in each of the last four meetings. Last year's match was electric, with
Abdul Al-Rashed and
Zach Townsend each finding the back of the net to lead Oakland to a 2-1 victory.
TUESDAY, NOV. 4 vs IU INDY | 2 PM | ESPN+
The Golden Grizzlies close out the regular season against the Jags, looking to officially lock in their postseason spot.
The Jags (5-7-3, 2-4-1 HL) have seven points, sitting second to last in the standings, just above Wright State. With a 2-1 win over Detroit Mercy last time out, IU Indy snapped a four-game losing streak.
Unlike the Raiders, the Jags have struggled offensively this season, scoring the second-fewest goals (14) in the conference. Stan klaver has been the focal point of their attack, scoring four goals on the year. Oakland's offense ranks in the top five in the conference with 17 goals, setting up a favorable matchup.
Over 25 all-time meetings, Oakland has won 18 of them. The Golden Grizzlies will be searching for their first win in the series since 2021.
With the postseason on the line and two home matches to close the regular season, the Golden Grizzlies will look to capitalize on their momentum and finish strong in front of their fans at the Oakland Soccer Field. Every point counts as Oakland aims to punch its ticket to the Horizon League Championship.
