MACOMB, Ill. – The Western Illinois men's soccer team is set to open Summit League play this weekend at IUPUI with a 1 p.m. match on Saturday.
The Fighting Leathernecks (2-3-2) are coming off a 3-1 win over Evansville on Sunday, Sept. 19. Western used three first-half goals to down the Purple Aces, who were ranked No. 5 in the Midwest region in the NSCAA poll entering the match. Charlie Bales notched his first career goal against Evansville and picked up the assist on Darryl Odom's game-winning goal.
The Jaguars (3-4-0) dropped a 1-0 decision at Eastern Illinois on Tuesday and have lost three of their past four matches. IUPUI has picked up wins over UNC-Ashville, SIU-Edwardsville and Central Arkansas. Jaguar goalkeeper Tyler Keever was named as The Summit League's Defensive Player of the Week after recording a 0.98 goals against average last week.
Series: Western trails 6-8-1
Last: Nov. 13, 2009: Western won 1-0 at Rochester, Mich
(Summit League Tournament Semifinal)
Head
Coach: Steve Franklin
Alma
Mater, Year: Northland (Wis.), '81
School
record: 109-150-19 (16th season)
Career
record: Same
Coverage
Live Stats • www.iupuijags.com
A Dominant Effort
The Leathernecks used a dominant first-half effort to knock off Evansville on Sunday. Western Illinois netted three goals in the first 32 minutes of the match on goals from Charlie Bales, Husref Jupic and Darryl Odom. The Purple Aces entered the match ranked No. 5 in the Midwest Region according to the latest NSCAA poll.
Western outshot Evansville eight to five in the first 45 minutes, including a four to two advantage in shots on goal. It was the first time that the Leathernecks saw three different players score a goal since a 4-1 win over Oral Roberts on Oct. 31, 2009.
Success Against IUPUI
Western Illinois has had great success over IUPUI in the most recent meetings between the two teams. The Leathernecks knocked the Jaguars out of The Summit League Tournament last season with a 1-0 victory on their way to a Summit League Tournament Title.
Western also took down IUPUI in the regular season in 2009 with a 1-0 victory in Macomb on Oct. 10. The Leathernecks did not allow a goal and held the Jaguars to just seven shots on goal in the two contests.
Defending the Crown
With the start of Summit League action this weekend, the Leathernecks will look to defend their 2009 Summit League Tournament Title. The 2009 championship was Western's fourth title since 2004.
No other team in league history has won four league tournament titles since The Summit League began hosting a conference tournament in 1994.
