MACOMB, Ill. - Western Illinois opens regular season action Saturday with a match at McClimon Complex in Madison, Wis. against the Badgers, then return to Macomb to open their home schedule against the Drake Bulldogs at John MacKenzie Alumni Field.
The Fighting Leatherneck men's soccer squad earned a 1-0 victory over the visiting Quincy Hawks in exhibition action Aug. 22 with junior forward Nathan Bruinsma posting Western's only goal of the two-game exhibition season.
Head coach Eric Johnson previews the upcoming season in video located HERE.
THE BREAKDOWN
Who: Western Illinois at Wisconsin
When: Saturday, Aug. 27 at 7 p.m.
Location: Madison, Wis.
Stadium: Dan McClimon Memorial Complex (4,500)
Coverage: Live stats are located HERE
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Who: Western Illinois vs. Drake
When: Monday, Aug. 29 at 5 p.m.
Location: Macomb, Ill.
Stadium: John MacKenzie Alumni Field (1,000)
Coverage: Live stats are located HERE
A LOOK AT THE BADGERS: Wisconsin finished 2010 4-13-3 overall and seventh in the Big Ten with a 1-4-1 conference record...Western owns a 4-6-1 record against Wisconsin all-time...In 2009 the Badgers defeated Western 1-0 in Wisconsin...In 2008, the Leathernecks traveled to Wisconsin and downed UW, 1-0...Wisconsin returns its top returner from last season, sophomore Chris Prince, who scored a team-high seven goals with no assists for 14 points in 2010.
A LOOK AT THE BULLDOGS: Drake finished its 2010 campaign 8-8-2 overall and fourth place in the Missouri valley Conference with a 4-2-1 record...Western is 7-14-0 all-time against Drake...The Leathernecks were defeated at Drake last season, 3-2...The Bulldogs, who were picked fourth in the MVC preseason poll, ended last year with a 1-0 loss to Bradley in the conference tournament...Drake opens its season at Loyola of Chicago on Aug. 26...The Bulldogs return their top goal-scorer from last season in Preseason All-MVC pick Thomas Ostrander who tallied five goals and one assist for 11 points 2010.
EXHIBITION ACTION: Western Illinois took part in two exhibition contests in August, both at home...The visiting Graceland Yellowjackets defeated the Leathernecks 4-0 on Aug. 20...All of Graceland's goals were scored in the second half...Western defeated Qunicy on Aug. 22, 1-0...At the 64:19 mark, senior midfielder Alexis Dominguez took the ball down the crease, found junior forward Nathan Bruinsma who finished near post to put WIU up 1-0 where the score would remain.
INJURY REPORT: Senior goalkeeper Andy Ryan broke a finger in the second half of Western's exhibition with Graceland (Aug. 20) and is expected to be out 4-6 weeks...Ryan will look to step back in net after an all-league performance last season...He finished at the top of many goalkeeper categories in The Summit League, including: first in saves per game (5.11), second in saves (92) and third in goals against average (.793).
AT THE HELM: Entering his 15th season as the head coach of the Fighting Leathernecks, coach Eric Johnson holds an overall coaching record of 159-185-29 (.465) and a record of 116-132-26 (.470) at Western...During his time at WIU, Johnson has earned league 'Coach of the Year' honors four times, led four teams to Summit League Tournament Championship titles and seen his team receive a berth in the NCAA College Cup in four of the past seven seasons.
2011 ROSTER BREAKDOWN: After losing eight seniors last season, Western Illinois will look to nine seniors this season for leadership on and off the pitch...Joining the nine seniors are seven juniors, three sophomores and 10 freshmen.
SENIOR CLASS: The 2011 season will be the last for nine Leatherneck soccer players, including: goalkeeper Andy Ryan, defenders Kooten Johnson, Kevin Ross, Adrian Loyocano and Antonio Katic, and midfielders Daniel Lewis, Matt Lewandowski, Mariano Leo and Alexis Dominguez.
NEWCOMERS: The 2011 class will feature 12 new Leathernecks, including two junior college transfers (Matt Carlson, Hilary Esangbedo) and 10 freshman (Mario Alvarez, Torrance Brown, Diego Gonzalez, Jose Martinez, Ebenezer Mengistu, Andre Nichols, Ephraim Okeke, Adam Osman, Jarrett Smith and Zachary Walsh).
CAPTAINS: Senior goalkeeper Andy Ryan and senior defender Kooten Johnson will serve as captains for this year's squad.
PRESEASON POLL: Western collected 23 votes, including a first-place vote in the 2011 Men's Soccer Preseason Poll to finish third in the poll...Earning the top spot was co-favorites Oakland and UNKC as each team collected 32 points to tie for first.
2010 SUMMIT LEAGUE HONORS: Western returns 19 players, including four All-League selections: sophomore Charlie Bales (All-Newcomer), senior Kooten Johnson (Second Team), senior Mariano Leo (Second Team and All-Newcomer) and senior Andy Ryan (Second Team) from last year's team.
