>>    The Ottawa University Arizona men's soccer team begins its second season of competition on Friday night when the Spirit travel to Prescott, Arizona, to face Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in the season opener for both teams.
 

>>    The game will be played at the ERAU Varsity Field starting at 7 p.m. local time.

>>    There are no live video or live stats options available during the contest. Updates will be posted on Twitter by following @OUAZMSOC.

AGAINST THE EAGLES

>>    OUAZ is looking for its first win over the in-state rival after dropping two games against the Eagles last season.

>>    Embry-Riddle secured a 4-0 win when the teams played in Prescott on September 7, 2017. They then spoiled the Spirit's Senior Day with a 2-1 victory at Spirit Field on November 2, 2017.

>>    Embry-Riddle is one of just three teams that OUAZ played multiple times during the inaugural season in 2017.

FIRST YEAR IN THE NAIA

>>    While 2018 is the second season of competition for OUAZ; it will be their first as a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).

>>    Ottawa Arizona officially gained membership to the national governing body this past April, allowing the Spirit full access to NAIA and conference postseason tournaments, along with student-athletes being eligible for all association and conference awards.

>>    As a member of the NAIA, OUAZ has also joined the Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC) for all sports except football. The GSAC has a long history of success in the NAIA and currently consists of 10 member schools and sponsors 16 sports.

THE 2018 SPIRIT

>>    OUAZ compiled an 8-9 overall record last season and will look to build on that mark in year two. Of the 25 players that played in at least one game last season, 14 are returning for the 2018 season.

>>    That group of returning players accounted for 30 goals and 16 assists last season. That is 65.2 percent of the team's total goals and 69.6 percent of total assists.

>>    Ricardo Navarro anchors the returners after leading the team with nine goals and 21 points a season ago. Navarro had goals in the team's first five games of 2017, and the Spirit went 6-2 in games he tallied at least one goal.

>>    OUAZ will look to fill a void at goalkeeper as no player on the 2018 roster saw action in goal for the Spirit last season. There are five keepers on the camp roster that have been competing for the No. 1 spot.

FULL SLATE AT SPIRIT FIELD

>>    OUAZ will look to establish a home field advantage as they will play 10 games at Spirit Field this season after just two appearances on the home turf last year.

>>    The home slate of games includes four of the team's eight GSAC contests. All four of the home conference games will be played in October during a three-week stretch.

>>    The Spirit will play their first home game of the season next Thursday, August 23, when they host University of the Southwest at 8 p.m. OUAZ also has a home contest against Antelope Valley on August 24 at 8 p.m.

SPIRIT NOTES

>>    Every game the team played last season was decided by the 75th minute. OUAZ went 8-0 when leading at the 75-minute mark and 0-9 when they trailed entering the game's final 15 minutes.

>>    The Spirit also posted a perfect 7-0 record when they scored the first goal of a game. Only one time all season did an OUAZ opponent level the game after falling behind.