MACOMB, Ill. - The Fighting Leatherneck men's soccer squad (3-3-1) will play host to the Bradley Braves (5-2-1) on Friday (Sept. 23), before traveling to Kalamazoo, Mich. to face the Western Michigan Broncos (3-4-0) on Sunday (Sept. 25). The Leathernecks are currently riding a two-game unbeaten streak.

Friday's matchup between Western and Bradley is slated for a 4:30 p.m. start at John MacKenzie Alumni Field, while the Leathernecks road contest at the Broncos is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.

Last weekend the Leathernecks played host to the DePaul Blue Demons, rolling to a 4-0 victory. Four different Leathernecks netted their first goal of 2011 in the victory. Nathan Bruinsma (assisted by Alexis Dominguez & Husref Jupic) began the scoring for Western at the 22:37 mark, followed up by Kooten Johnson (assisted by Charlie Bales) giving Western a 2-0 lead heading into the break. Jupic (assisted by Bales & Mariano Leo) extended the Leathernecks' lead to 3-0 at the 77:00 mark, while Aaron Appel (assisted by Dominguez) put the icing on the cake with the game's final goal at 80:53. To view the full recap of last weekend's win, click HERE. To view the box score, click HERE.

THE BREAKDOWN
 

WHO: Western Illinois Leathernecks vs. Bradley Braves (5-1-2)
WHEN: Friday, Sept. 23 at 4:30 p.m.
LOCATION: Macomb, Ill.
STADIUM: John MacKenzie Alumni Field (1,000)

LIVE STATS: HERE

WHO: Western Illinois Leathernecks vs. Western Michigan Broncos (3-4)
WHEN: Sunday, Sept. 25 at 2 p.m.
LOCATION: Kalamazoo, Mich.
STADIUM: WMU Soccer Complex (500)

LIVE STATS: HERE ? TWITTER: HERE

WEEKLY/TEAM NOTES

A LOOK AT THE BRAVES: Bradley, a member of the Missouri Valley Conference, enters the weekend with a 5-1-2 record...In its last action, the Braves defeated Loyola Chicago, 2-1 (recap located HERE)...Leading the Braves in points this season is Bryan Gaul who owns 6-2-14 on the year, including three game-winning goals...A total of eight Braves have netted a goal this season, eight have earned helpers...In net for Bradley is Brian Billings who has started all eight games for the Braves...In his 770:20 of action, Billings has made 25 saves, and allowed eight goals for a 0.93 goals against average, owns a .758 save percentage and a 5-1-2 record...The Braves are coached by head coach Jim DeRose who is in the midst of 16th season with Bradley, and holds a 166-117-31 while at Bradley.

SERIES HISTORY: Western is 14-14 all-time against Bradley...The two teams last met in 2010 when the Braves defeated the Leathernecks, 1-0...Western last defeated Bradley in 2008, 1-0, when the Braves were ranked 17/23.

A LOOK AT THE BRONCOS: Western Michigan, a member of the Mid-American Conference, enters the weekend with a 3-4 record having won their last three matches...In its last action, the Broncos defeated Valparaiso, 2-0 (recap located HERE)...Leading the Broncos in points is Shane Lyons who owns 5-1-11 on the year...Six Broncos have netted a goal or more for WMU, while 10 different Broncos have earned helpers...In net for Western Michigan is Matt Murrell who has started five matches Western Michigan...In his 439:44 of action, Murrell has made 18 saves, and allowed five goals for a 1:02 goals against average, owns a .783 save percentage, three shutouts and a 3-1 record...The Broncos are coached head coach Stu Riddle who is in the midst of his third season with Western Michigan and holds a 16-18-3 while with the Broncos.

SERIES HISTORY: The Leathernecks are 5-1-2 all-time against Western Michigan...The two teams last met in 2010 when the Broncos and Leathernecks played to a 1-1 draw...Shane Lyon, WMU's current points leader, scored the Broncos lone goal in the two teams' last meeting.

AT THE HELM: In the midst of his 15th season as the head coach of the Fighting Leathernecks, coach Eric Johnson holds an overall coaching record of 162-188-30 (.466) and a record of 119-135-27 (.472) at Western...Earlier this season (Sept. 11), Johnson earned his 118th victory while coaching at Western, becoming the winningest coach in Summit League history (story HERE)...During his time at WIU, Johnson has earned league 'Coach of the Year' honors three 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.

CAPTAINS: Senior goalkeeper Andy Ryan and senior defender Kooten Johnson are the captains for this year's squad.

WESTERN IN THE SUMMIT LEAGUE: The Leathernecks rank in the top-three of several Summit League categories, including: first in goals against average (1.11), first in goals allowed (1.14), first in shutouts (2), first in corner kicks (41), first in offsides (21), first in yellow cards (16), first in win-percentage, second in shots (99), second in points (30), second in goals (10), second in assists (10), second in fouls (109) and third in saves (29).

AGAINST OUR OPPONENTS: Western has been outshot by its opponents this season, 111-99...However, the Leathernecks have tallied more shots on goal than their opponents, 41-37, leading to a better shooting percentage, .101-.072, and a better shots-on-goal percentage, .414-.333...14 different Leathernecks have taken a shot, 11 of which have put at least one shot on frame...Eight Leathernecks have netted at least one goal, while five others have earned at least one helper...To view Western Illinois stats, click HERE.

ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM: Earlier this season (Sept. 2-4), senior goalkeeper Andy Ryan was named to the 37th Annual Panther Invitational All-Tournament team, along with teammate, senior midfielder Alexis Dominguez...A week later (Sept. 9-11) at the Dayton Invitational, three Leathernecks earned All-Tournament honors in: junior Husref Jupic, sophomore Charlie Bales and junior Aaron Appel.

SUMMIT LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Western Illinois senior goalkeeper Andy Ryan was named Summit League 'Defensive Player of the Week' September 6th, and 'co-Defensive Player of the Week' September 19th...Releases on Ryan earning the awards can be found HERE (Sept. 6) and HERE (Sept. 19).

2011 ROSTER BREAKDOWN: After losing eight seniors last season, Western Illinois will look to nine seniors in 2011 for leadership on and off the pitch...Joining the nine seniors are seven juniors, three sophomores and 11 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: This season's incoming class features 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,  Zachary Walsh and Ebenezer Mengistu).

EXHIBITION SEASON: Western Illinois took part in two exhibition contests in August, both at home...The Graceland Yellowjackets defeated the Leathernecks 4-0 on Aug. 20...All of Graceland's goals were scored in the second half including one goal on a penalty kick...In their second preseason game, Western defeated Quincy on Aug. 22, 1-0...In the match, 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.

PRESEASON POLL: Western collected 23 votes, including a first-place vote in the 2011 Men's Soccer Preseason Poll to finish third...Receiving the most votes in the poll 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.

JOHN MACKENZIE ALUMNI FIELD: Both the Leatherneck Men's and Women's soccer teams play all home games on John MacKenzie Alumni Field. Located directly east of Brophy Hall and in front of a heavily wooded backdrop, it measures 80 yards wide by 120 yards long and was recently enhanced with the additions of an electronic scoreboard and chain-link fence. With bleacher seating for 500, MacKenzie Field has a capacity of 1,000 fans. Recognizing the long-time Leatherneck men's head coach, the field was named in MacKenzie's honor in December, 1997 and officially dedicated in the spring of 1998. MacKenzie coached the Leathernecks for 29 seasons before retiring in 1996. His tenure dated to the very first season of soccer at Western in 1968 and he was named the Midwest Coach of the Year in 1988 and 1995. MacKenzie headed the drive to raise funds for the new field.

PLAYER NOTES

ANDY RYAN NOTES: Returns to the Leatherneck soccer squad after completing his first year as the starter in 2010...In 2011, Ryan has started six games with a 3-2-1 mark...Owner of 25 saves, a .781 save percentage and 1.12 goal per game average...Named Summit League 'Defensive Player of the Week' Sept. 6 and 'co-Defensive Player of the Week' on Sept. 19th...Leads the Summit League with two shutouts...Sits second in the league in goals allowed per game with a 1.12 average and save percentage with a .81 average...Sits third in the league in saves with 25...Last season, Ryan finished the season ranked in the top-three in the following Summit League categories: first in saves per game (5.11), second in saves (92) and third in goals against average (.793).

DANIEL LEWIS NOTES: Has started every game for Western this season...Leads the team in shots with 17, shots on goal with nine, goals with three, and points with six...His one game-winner sits tied for second in the Summit League, while his 17 shots, three goals and six points each rank tied for third in the league...Scored the game-winner versus Marquette with 32 seconds remaining in regulation to give Western its first win of 2011 (Sept. 4)...Tallied two goals in Western's 3-2 loss to Butler (Sept. 9)...Owner of 3-0-6.

CHARLIE BALES NOTES: Has started every game for Western this season...Owner of 16 shots and seven on goal, both of which rank second on the team...His four points and two assists sit tied for second on the team...His 16 shots ranks fifth in the Summit League...Netted his first goal, a game-tying goal, of the season versus Dayton (Sept. 11)...Both assists were earned in the Leathernecks' 4-0 over DePaul (Sept. 17)...Owner of 1-2-4.

HUSREF JUPIC NOTES: Has played in all seven games for Western this season, starting six of them...Owner of 14 shots, four on goal...Assisted on one of Daniel Lewis' goal against Butler (Sept. 9)...Scored a goal and earned a helper in Western's 4-0 win over DePaul (Sept. 17)...Owner of 1-2-4.

ALEXIS DOMINGUEZ NOTES: Has started every game for Western this season...Tallied 11 shots, four on goal...Owner of a team-best three assists...His three assists is tied for third in the Summit League...Assisted on Daniel Lewis' game-winner over Marquette (Sept. 4)...Recorded two assists in Western's 4-0 win over DePaul (Sept. 17)...Owner of 0-3-3.

AARON APPEL NOTES: Has started every game for Western this season...Owner of five shots, two on goal...Has recorded one goal and one assist on the year...Earned the team's first assist of the season on Esangbedo's goal versus Drake (Aug. 29)...Recorded his first goal of the season in the Leathernecks 4-0 win over DePaul (Sept. 17)...Owner of 1-1-3.

KOOTEN JOHNSON NOTES: Has played in six games for Western this season, starting all of them...One of two captains for this year's team...Owner of seven shots, two on goal...Netted his first goal of 2011 in Western's 4-0 win over DePaul (Sept. 17)...Owner of 1-0-2.

NATHAN BRUINSMA NOTES: Has played in five games for Western this season...Has played in every game for Western this season, starting five of them...Owner of 12 shots, five on goal...Has netted one goal this season...His first goal of 2011 was Western's game-winner in WIU's 4-0 win over DePaul (Sept. 17)...Owner of 1-0-2.

HILARY ESANGBEDO NOTES: Has played in six games for Western this season, starting in all of them...Owner of two shots, both on goal...Scored Western's first goal of 2011 at home versus Drake (Aug. 29)...Owner of 1-0-2.

MARIANO LEO NOTES: Has played in three games for Western this season, starting all of them...Has three shots, one shot on goal this season...Has earned two helpers in 2011...Assisted on the game-winner over Dayton (Sept. 11)...Earned his second assist of the season in Western's 4-0 win over DePaul (Sept. 17)...Owner of 0-2-2.

DIEGO GONZALEZ NOTES: Has played in six games for Western this season...Owner of five shots, three on goal...Scored the game-winner against Dayton (Sept. 11)...Owner of 1-0-2.