SURPRISE, ARIZ.- OUAZ Men's Soccer opened up its season with wins over a pair of first-year schools. Now, they travel across the country to face two established programs.

The Spirit head to Georgia for the upcoming week for the Reinhardt Invitational, where they play Truett McConnell on Thursday and wrap up with host Reinhardt University on Saturday. It is an opportunity for OUAZ to show what they are all about in a different part of the county.

"Last year, I told the team our goal is to make a name for ourselves, start to create some buzz," OUAZ head coach Matt Gow said. "My challenge to the guys this year is 'hey, you did a great job creating a buzz, now we need to go out and play some out of region games to start earning some respect'."

The two teams the Spirit will see have solid starts to their seasons as well. Despite losing, Truett McConnell played well against the #25 Southeastern University, dropping the match 2-1. The Spirit have scored 17 goals through their first two games, but the Bears bring a new defensive challenge for OUAZ to break through.

"I know (Truett McConnell head coach Rob Miller) is going to have them organized," Gow said. "They're going to make it hard on us to score."

Reinhardt ranks #24 in the NAIA preseason coaches' poll, and started their year off with a 3-0 win over Piedmont College. The invitational will be their first two home games, a place where the Eagles went 11-1-0 in 2018. It will be great test for an Ottawa team looking to make a statement.

"They're a team that, in the last few years, have solidified themselves as being one of the top-25 teams in the NAIA," Gow said. "So, for us to have the opportunity to go on the road and play (Reinhardt) at their place, it gives us an opportunity to ears some respect."

THIS WEEK FOR MEN'S SOCCER
The OUAZ men's soccer team will travel to Waleska, Georgia for two games this week. The Spirit face Truett McConnell on Thursday (11AM AZ Time kickoff) and Reinhardt University on Saturday (8:00AM AZ time kickoff).

AGAINST THE OPPOSITION
This is the first time the Spirit have ever faced Truett McConnell and Reinhardt.

NOTABLE QUOTABLE
"You just go out and try to be your best. It is also during orientation for (Reinhardt), so I think there is going to be a few hundred students at the game on Saturday. I think it is going to make it a more enjoyable environment. To put our guys in that type of environment, to overcome some of those obstacles, seasons us for games to come." – Gow, when talking about how his team is getting ready for a tough true road test on Saturday.

SPIRIT NOTES
Sophomore Cristian Gennaro and freshmen Edoardo Venutolo are tied for first in goals in the NAIA with four each. They are in a group with six other players for the top spot.

Gennaro scored two goals in last Thursday's win over Westcliff, making it his second multi-goal game of his career. He has not scored less than two goals in either game this season.

This weekend will be the first time OUAZ has faced a team from the Appalachian Athletic Conference.

This road trip will be the farthest the program has ever traveled for a true road game, as Reinhardt is nearly 2,000 miles from Spirit Field.

UP NEXT
The Spirit will return home to face Marymount College on September 5. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:00pm.