MACOMB, Ill. –The Western Illinois men's soccer team dropped a 2-0 decision to Green Bay on Tuesday, Oct. 26 at John MacKenzie Alumni Field. Both teams battled the elements throughout the match as each side was forced to play one half into a driving wind that reached speeds of 43 miles per hour.
Despite the weather, the Fighting Leathernecks (3-6-7) played a solid first half as they created several quality scoring chances and held the Phoenix off the board in the first half.
"I thought we showed some really good things in the first half," said head coach Dr. Eric Johnson. "We had some really good opportunities but again just didn't find the back of the net. That's really been the issue all year; we have to finish better."
Western Illinois had a chance to take the lead in the 12th minute when Charlie Bales hit a screamer that dipped away from Phoenix goalkeeper Ryan Wehking who made a beautiful diving save to his right.
The Phoenix would also come close in the first half, but Leatherneck defender Aaron Winkelmann made a header save off the line to keep the match scoreless in the 38th minute.
Green Bay (10-4-1) would come on strong in the second half with the wind at its back, getting two goals from J.C. Banks to pick up its sixth win in a row.
Banks scored his first goal in the 58th minute when he received a pass and, with his back to the goal, beat a Leatherneck defender to his left before firing a shot off his right foot and into the net.
Western Illinois nearly found the equalizer in the 73rd minute, but David Puka's shot hit the post and bounced straight back into the arms of Wehking.
"We've had some bad luck this year when its come to scoring," Johnson said. "But we still need to find ways to get the ball in the net and we need to have guys step up and be that dangerous scorer that opponents fear."
The Phoenix would snag an insurance goal in the 75th minute when Wehking sent a long service to David Bernhardsson who flicked it on to Banks just outside the penalty area. Banks then chipped the ball over Leatherneck goalkeeper Andy Ryan for a 2-0 lead.
Ryan (3-7-6) suffered the loss despite making eight saves for the second match in a row. Western Illinois was outshot by a 25 to eight margin, including an 11 to three deficit in shots on goal.
Bales led the Leathernecks with three shots, two of which were placed on target. Alexis Dominguez also recorded a shot on goal and four other Western Illinois players had one shot.
The Leathernecks will return to action next Tuesday (Nov. 2) when they travel to Peoria to take on Bradley at 7 p.m. in their final non-league match of the season.
