MACOMB, Ill. - Western Illinois (6-2) women's soccer will travel back to Wisconsin to square off against a nationally ranked Milwaukee (8-1, 1-0) program at 7 p.m. on Laura Moynihan Field at Engelmann Stadium.

The Fighting Leathernecks improved to 5-1 in its previous six games with a 1-0 victory over Green Bay on Sunday afternoon. Miranda Graham collected the goal as she was able to rebound a Kellie Julius shot attempt and netted the game-winning score.

The Match Up
Who • Western Illinois (6-2) at #15 Milwaukee (8-1, 1-0)
When • Friday, Sept. 23 p.m. CST)
Location • Milwaukee, Wis. • Laura Moynihan Field at Engelmann Stadium (2,000)

Coverage
Live Stats • UWPanthers.com

Twitter • @WIUAthletics

SCOUTING THE PANTHERS: Michael Moynihan (15th Season) and his Milwaukee program have won 11 consecutive Horizon League titles... the Panthers have made three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances... in 2010, Milwaukee was 12-7-2 overall and 6-2 in conference play before losing to Wisconsin in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, 2-1... this year's squad returns 13 letterwinners and five starters from that team... the Panthers enter with an 8-1 overall record and a 1-0 mark in the Horizon League... UWM defeated Cleveland State 4-0 prior to facing the Leathernecks... this will be the first ever meeting between the two programs.

PANTHERS TO WATCH: Senior forward Sarah Hagen had 19 goals, including seven game-winners, and six assists in 2010 and was named a NSCAA First Team All-American and Horizon League Player of the Year... so far this season she has not slowed down and has collected 11 goals on 24 shot on-goal attempts (.453) and scored five game-winners... Senior midfielder Keara Thompson was a 2010 All-League Second Team selection and has one goal with six assists this season... Freshman forward Kelly Lewers has three goals in 2011... Junior goalkeeper Jamie Forbes (8-1) has allowed just six goals in 2011 for a 0.65 goals against average... has made 40 saves and carries a .870 save percentage... five shutouts on the year... played in 11 games in 2010.

RANKED OPPONENT: This will be the first match against a nationally ranked opponent for Western Illinois women's soccer under head coach Tony Guinn... Milwaukee will enter the Friday clash ranked No. 12 in the Soccer America poll and No. 15 in the NSCAA rankings.

STRENGTH THE PENGUIN: Shaymus Guinn, son of head coach Tony Guinn, recently entered the hospital to begin his second fight against cancer... After overcoming Ewing's sarcoma, Guinn now must face A.L.L. leukemia... Shaymus had made previous road trips this season, including to Iowa City, and was an inspiration on the sideline for the team. Shaymus will be alongside the team on Friday in the form of his favorite animal, a penguin... In honor of Shaymus, Coach Guinn has asked the team to represent his son by bringing a penguin, named Strength, to all games and practices... read more about the story here.

VICTORIA-OUS: Freshman goalkeeper Victoria Kappel (6-2) is providing excellent play in net for the Leathernecks... her four shutouts are tied for the most in the Summit League... Kappel's 1.25 goals against average is fourth in the league... she was named Summit League Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 19 after her shutout at Green Bay.

QUINN: Freshman M/D Trisha Quinn was involved in every goal against SIUE and Drake and all three started with Quinn taking a corner kick... in the win over SIUE she collected an assist and a goal in a late first half flurry, both on her corner kicks... on Sunday, against Drake she again provided the offense with a corner kick that found Katie Condon for the goal... to top her weekend off she earned Summit League Offensive Player of the Week.

FAST START: The 4-1 start was the best start that the Leathernecks have had under Coach Guinn and one of the best in program history.... in 2008 the Purple & Gold started 4-1 before falling to 4-4... in 2007, Western set a program record with 16 wins and started 5-1-1 before improving to 12-1-1 before its next loss.

PRESEASON POLL: The Leathernecks were picked to finish fourth in The Summit League... Head Coach Tony Guinn's squad received 48 points and a first-place vote... Western has become accustomed to exceeding expectations as it was slotted in the fifth-place slot prior to the 2010 season.

ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM: Western returns two members of 2010's Summit League All-Freshman team... Kristin Becker and Jordan Spaciel both collected the honor after strong debuts for the Purple & Gold... Spaciel collected four goals and one assist in 20 games and 10 starts and notched the game-winning goal against Green Bay... Becker played a large role in a strong defense and will be asked to do the same in 2011.

TRENDING UPWARD: 2010 saw the Leathernecks put up some impressive numbers as a team... the 10 wins is the third most in program history... the squad also collected nine shutouts, the most in program history... the 76 points last season is fifth all-time... the Purple & Gold put 151 shots on goal, which is second all-time while taking 291 total shots, also second all-time.

DEFENDING HOME TURF: Western Illinois has not lost at home since Oct. 18, 2009 (9-0-3)... the win over Grand View continued that undefeated streak... under Coach Guinn the leathernecks are 24-6-5 (.788) on MacKenzie Alumni Field including unbeaten season at home in 2007 (8-0) and 2010 (5-0-3).

CLUTCH: Last season the Purple & Gold won four of the last five regular season games to qualify for the Summit League Tournament... the program has reached the tournament three out of the last four seasons.

HIGH SCHOOL ALL-AMERICAN: The strong recruiting class will offer exceptional depth and talent across the board... included in that class is NSCAA All-American, Sarah Hall... Hall was named All-State after she finished her prep career with 88 goals, 33 of which came as a senior... she also dished out 20 assists and was a Gatorade Indiana Player of the Year candidate.

2011 SENIORS: This season will  be the final one for four longtime Leathernecks... Laura Lins, Nora Potempa, Kristin Kuhar and Lauren DeWolf all have played their entire careers for the Purple & Gold... Amy Unzicker will also exhaust her athletic eligibility this season.