There’s a key Upstate Eight Conference match at Riverside-Brookfield on Tuesday (Oct. 1)that will have a lot to say about who comes away with the East Division title this season.

The Bulldogs welcome Fenton to their stadium at 7 p.m. , with first place on the line in the new seven-team division. Riverside-Brookfield came over to the league this season from the disbanded Metro Suburban Conference.

Fenton has already played three league matches and come out on top in each.

The Bison beat Ridgewood 3-1, Glenbard South 2-1 and were victorious over West Chicago 2-1.

Riverside-Brookfield has also yet to lose in conference. They defeated Elmwood Park 2-1 and played to a scoreless tie against Glenbard East.

The foes are the only two teams who have not dropped an East Division game this year.

Click here to see the Upstate Eight Conference East Division standings

Fenton, despite being on the road, have every right to feel confident traveling to Riverside.

Most recently, they just had a three-game win streak snapped in a 1-0 loss to Class 3A side Waukegan. The skein was highlighted by a big 3-2 nonconference win over Downers Grove North.

The Bison are 7-4-1 overall on the campaign; all the losses have come against Class 3A sides.

“We’ve been performing well collectively as a team,” said Fenton coach Victor Ruiz, “therefore our success is not due to individual performances.

“Unfortunately (now), we have a few players out with injuries, but others have stepped up in their absence.

“This team is one of, if not the, deepest rosters we have had, and that is a testament to their work over the years.”

Ruiz added that he cannot single out any particular player’s success. The team subscribes to the win-as-a-team, lose-as-a-team mindset.

“We have numerous players creating and scoring goals for us,” he added. “Our team is dangerous offensively, because of the variety of skills we have attacking with speed.

“Each game has presented opportunities to different players to score 21 goals so far this season.”

Fenton signaled it would be strong when it gave current no. 4 Elgin its only loss so far in a season-opening 2-1 win on the road, and tied DuKane Conference-leading Geneva 1-1.

Riverside-Brookfield enters the match after a 3-1 home defeat to no. 18 Lyons. The Bulldogs are led by senior midfielders Diego Villegas (eight goals, five assists) and Tomas Kunickas (six goals, six assists).

The home team has had a topsy-turvy year so far.

The Bulldogs hold a 5-5-2 mark, but when they’ve been good, they’ve been very, very good.

In their five victories they’ve outscored their opponents 14-6, including a shootout win over Washington (Chicago) at the Windy City Ram Classic.

In their five losses, they have been outscored 15-4.

Despite that rollercoaster ride, Riverside-Brookfield coach Ivek Halic said that his team has been playing well and the future looks bright.

“We’re beginning to make strides as the season progresses," he said.

The coach singled out Kunickas, Villegas and Liam Hickey, all team captains, as the driving force behind the team.

“The boys are working hard at practice,” Halic said, “and we’re beginning to get players healthy.

“The objective is always to win games, but our focus is one game at a time. We emphasize conference matches, but every game has meaning at the varsity level.”

“(We know) Fenton has a talented team and good coaching. We expect a physical matchup with them.”

Ruiz is anticipating the same.

“Coach Ivek will have his team ready to play,” said the Bison coach, “and give us a tough challenge within our conference.

“Our team needs to have another collective effort defensively and offensively. Our boys know what’s at stake, and we believe they will fight for the result.

“We’ve wasted a few opportunities to close out games this year, but it’s been difficult to manage the injuries. (We want) to finish first in our side of the conference and win the conference championship.

“Thereafter our goal is to be the last team standing as the Class AA champion.”