DES MOINES, IOWA.  -  Senior Jona Andrade (Miami, Fla./Sunset Senior) scored the game-winning goal in the 101st minute to defeat No. 26 Drake University, 2-1, in two overtimes on Oct. 14 at the Cownie Soccer Complex.

"We talked about this game not so much as a game where we are playing a ranked opponent, but as a game where we had a chance to prove ourselves out of our conference," said Western Illinois head coach Dr. Eric Johnson. "We want to be playing our best soccer by the end of the season and we are starting to get there by creating quality chances to score. It is great for our guys to get recognition by defeating a ranked opponent and it's a fun win for our guys, but hopefully our guys will move on from the win and get ready for our next game against IUPUI."

The Bulldogs (9-3-0) would score first in the 33rd minute off a free kick from 30 yards out as the ball hit the upper corner of the net to make the score, 1-0, in favor of Drake going into the locker room at the half.

Only 11 minutes into the second half, the Leathernecks (9-3-2) would tie the match as sophomore Cosimo Patano (Franklin Park, Ill./East Leyden) scored his third goal of the season when he kick the ball from 35 yards away and hit the upper corner of the net.

"Cosimo had another big goal for us tonight when we were down 1-0," said Johnson. "Cosimo got the ball from  a rebound off one of our corner kicks and hit the upper corner of the goal from 35 yards out, it was a missile."

The match would remain tied at the end of regulation and after the completion of one overtime. In the 101st minute, Andrade would score his third game-winning goal of the season when he found the back of the net off an assist from junior Martin Browne, Jr. (Brooklyn Park, Minn./Osseo) and Patano.

"On the game-winning goal, Cosimo intercepted the short corner kick from Drake on a great sliding tackle and passed the ball to Martin who was streaking down the left side of the field and then found Jona  streaking up the middle of the field who put the ball past the goal keeper," said Johnson.

The Bulldogs out shot Western 15-10 in the match and took eight corner kicks to Western's five.

In the net for the Leathernecks was junior Stephen Paterson (Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada/Sir Winston Churchill) who made five saves and allowed one goal in 101 minutes of action. As a defensive unit, Western has only allowed three goals in the last five matches.

"I think a lot of credit should go to Nikola (Katic) in the middle for organizing the defense," said Johnson. "Kevin Ross, Jeff Schield and Diego Zamudio were very good as well tonight on defense. They won a lot of first ball's and they played hard together. When you have a good defense, it gives your offense a chance to play instead of always defending."

The Leathernecks will travel to IUPUI for a conference match up on Saturday, Oct. 18 at 1 p.m. at Michael A. Carrol Stadium. IUPUI holds the series record over Western, 7-4-1, with the last meeting coming on Oct. 20, 2007 when the Leathernecks were defeated 2-1 at John MacKenzie Alumni Field.