MACOMB, Ill. – The
Western Illinois women's soccer team will play its final non-league match of the season when it travels to Northern Iowa for a match at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 29.
The Fighting
Leathernecks (3-3-3) will return to the pitch after a ten-day break when they face the Panthers. Western Illinois is coming off a 1-1 draw against Eastern Illinois in its last outing on Sept. 19. The Leathernecks are undefeated in their past four matches, compiling a 2-0-2 record during that stretch.
The Panthers (2-7-1) enter the weekend after falling by a 2-1 score to Missouri State on Sept. 24. The loss snapped a two-match winning streak for Northern Iowa, which had defeated North Dakota State and St. Ambrose earlier this month. The Panthers began the season with six-straight losses before playing South Dakota State to a scoreless draw on Sept. 17.
Series: Western leads 4-2-3
Last: Sept. 11, 2009: Teams tied 0-0 in Macomb
Head
Coach: James Price
Alma
Mater, Year: Liberty, '96
School
record: 4-18-4 (2nd season)
Career
record: 92-135-22 (13th)
Leading the League
Western Illinois sophomore Laura Atkinson entered the week as one of the top goalkeepers in The Summit League. Atkinson leads the league in save percentage (.867) and ranks third in goals against average (0.82) and saves per match (5.57). The Oregon, Wis., has also recorded two shutouts this year, surpassing her total from a year ago.
Atkinson's save percentage number ranks just outside the top-30 nationally. Last season, she finished with the 23rd-best save percentage in the nation (.859).
Four in a Row
The Leathernecks are unbeaten against Northern Iowa in the past four meetings between the two teams. Western has dominated the series in recent history, outscoring the Panthers by a 12 to two margin since 2005 including wins of 4-0, 4-1 and 3-0. The Panthers were able to tie Western 1-1 in Macomb last season.
In the all-time series between the Leathernecks and Panthers, the teams have played three double-overtime matches. Western has shutout Northern Iowa on three occasions since the teams first met on Sept. 29, 2000.
Continuing the Surge
Western
Illinois will look to build of its late-season surge from the 2009 campaign when it begins Summit League action against UMKC and Southern Utah at home this weekend. The Leathernecks won four straight matches in league play last season to qualify for The Summit League Tournament.
The Leathernecks have not lost at home since a 2-1 loss to North Dakota State on Oct. 18, 2009, a span of six matches. Western has outscored its opponents by an eight to five margin during its home-unbeaten streak.
