MACOMB, Ill. – The Western Illinois men's soccer team is set to open the 2010 regular season with three matches in five days beginning Wednesday, Sept. 1.
The Fighting Leathernecks will start the 2010 campaign on the road with a match at SIU-Edwardsville on Wednesday at 7 p.m. before heading to DePaul on Friday at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday's matchup is the regular-season opener for both teams while DePaul will face Green Bay before Western comes calling.
Western opens its home schedule when it plays host to Marquette on Sunday at 5 p.m. at John MacKenzie Alumni Field. The Golden Eagles will take on Milwaukee on Wednesday before traveling to Macomb.
Series: Western trails 8-10-2
Last: Oct. 28, 2009: Western won 1-0 in Macomb
Head Coach: Kevin Kalish
Alma Mater, Year: Saint Louis, '99
School record: 10-17-4 (3rd season)
Career record: Same
DePaulwww.depaulbluedemons.com
2009 record: 8-9-3
Series: Western leads 3-2-0
Last: Sept, 3, 2005: DePaul won 1-0 in Chicago
Head Coach: Craig Blazer
Alma Mater, Year: Xavier, '91
School record: 60-94-18 (10th season)
Career record: Same
Series: Tied 5-5-0
Last: Sept. 8, 1993: Marquette won 3-1 in Macomb
Head Coach: Louis Bennett
Alma Mater, Year: Crewe & Alsagar, '82
School record: 10-48-12 (5th season)
Career record: 145-112-29 (15th season)
Coverage
Live Stats • www.goleathernecks.com
Title Defense
Western Illinois will look to win its fifth Summit League title in the past seven seasons in 2010. The Leathernecks won three-straight Summit League Tournament titles from 2004-06 and won the league tournament again in 2009. Western is the only team in league history to win four league tournament titles.
Leathernecks picked thirdWestern Illinois was selected to finish third in The Summit League preseason poll. The Leathernecks finished with two first-place votes in the poll, which is voted on by the league's seven head coaches. Western finished with 27 total points in the poll after winning last year's conference tournament.Last year's Summit League Tournament runner-up UMKC was picked first, followed by 2009 regular-season champion Oakland. The top four teams in the final regular-season standings will advance to the league tournament in November.
A tough road ahead
The Leathernecks will look to navigate their way through another difficult non-conference schedule. The team will face 2009 NCAA Tournament participants Drake, Green Bay and Tulsa this season. Both Drake and Tulsa advanced to last year's College Cup quarterfinals. Tulsa is currently ranked No. 7 in the NSCAA preseason poll while Drake is ranked No. 14. Green Bay is listed in the "others receiving votes" category.
Tulsa is ranked as the No. 7 team in the nation while Drake holds down the No. 14 spot in the NSCAA preseason poll. Green Bay was listed as a team receiving votes for the top 25.
