MACOMB, Ill. - The Western Illinois men's soccer squad (4-4-1, 0-0-0) will open Summit League action Friday (Sept. 30) when they play host to the Eastern Illinois Panthers (4-4-1, 0-0-1). The Valparaiso Crusaders will then travel to Macomb on Sunday (Oct. 2) to wrap-up the Leathernecks' weekend.

Friday's matchup between Western and Eastern Illinois is slated for a 3:00 p.m. start at John MacKenzie Alumni Field, and Sunday's tilt is slated for a 1:00 p.m. start.

LAST TIME OUT: The Leathernecks posted a 1-1 mark last week. Western dropped a 1-0 contest to No. 21 Bradley last Friday (recap HERE | box score HERE), and then defeated Western Michigan 1-0 on Sunday. Western Illinois' Nathan Bruinsma put the Leathernecks up 1-0 at the fifth minute. Bruinsma was able to block the keeper's clearing attempt, gain control of the ball and bury it, for his second goal of the season (recap HERE | box score HERE).

THE BREAKDOWN

WHO: Western Illinois Leathernecks vs. Eastern Illinois Panthers (4-4-1, 0-0-1)
WHEN: Friday, Sept. 30 at 3:00 p.m.
LOCATION: Macomb, Ill.
STADIUM: John MacKenzie Alumni Field (1,000)
LIVE STATS: HERE

WHO: Western Illinois Leathernecks vs. Valparaiso Crusaders (3-3-2, 0-0-1)
WHEN: Sunday, Oct. 2 at 1 p.m.
LOCATION: Macomb, Ill.
STADIUM: John MacKenzie Alumni Field (1,000)
LIVE STATS: HERE

WEEKLY/TEAM NOTES

A LOOK AT THE PANTHERS: Eastern Illinois, a member of the Summit League, enters the weekend with a 4-4-1 record and 0-0-1 in league play...In its last action, the Panthers opened up Summit League play as a new member, ending a very rough match with a 0-0 draw against IUPUI (recap located HERE)...Leading the Panthers in points this season are freshmen Jake Brillhart (3-1--7) and Will Butler (2-3--7) who own seven a piece...A total of seven Panthers have netted a goal this season, eight have recorded at least one assist...Eastern has two goalkeepers that have provided minutes in net, Even Turner and Tyler Kelley...Turner leads the Panthers in net, starting five matches, recording 21 saves, allowing eight goals, 1.35 G.A.A., a .724 save percentage and a 3-2-0 record...The Panthers are coached by head coach Adam Howarth, who is in the midst of his 12th season with Eastern.

SERIES HISTORY: Western is 12-30-5 all-time against Eastern Illinois...The two teams most recently met last year when the Panthers defeated the Leathernecks, 1-0 (box score HERE).

A LOOK AT THE CRUSADERS: Valparaiso, a member of the Horizon League, enters the weekend with a 3-3-2 record and a 0-0-1 league mark...In its last action, the Crusaders opened Horizon League play on the road and were able to come away having earned a result, dueling to a 0-0 draw with Cleveland State (recap located HERE)...Leading the Crusaders in points is Todd Vervynckt who owns 2-1--5 on the year...10 Crusaders have netted a goal or more for Valparaiso, while eight different Crusaders have earned helpers...In net for Valparaiso is Kyle Zobeck who has started all eight matches for Valparaiso, and played every minute...In his 760:00 of action, Murrell has made 20 saves, and allowed six goals for a 0.71 goals against average, owns a .769 save percentage, with four shutouts and a 3-3-2 record...The Crusaders are coached by head coach Mike Avery who is in the midst of his fourth season with Valparaiso.

SERIES HISTORY: The Leathernecks are 16-6-2 all-time against Valparaiso...The two teams most recently met last season when the Crusaders and Leathernecks played to a 1-1 draw (box score HERE).

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 163-189-30 (.466) and a record of 120-136-27 (.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.

IN THE SUMMIT LEAGUE: The Leathernecks rank in the top-three of several Summit League categories, including: first in goals against average (0.98), first in goals allowed (1.00), first in shutouts (3), first in corner kicks (56), first in yellow cards (19), first in win-percentage (.500), second in offsides (24), second in shots (125), second in fouls (130), second in saves (41) and third in goals (11).

IN THE NATION: The Leathernecks rank 39th in save percentage nationally with a .821.

AGAINST OUR OPPONENTS: Western has been outshot by its opponents this season, 141-125...However, the Leathernecks have tallied more shots on goal than their opponents, 52-50, leading to a better shooting percentage, .088-.064, and a better shots-on-goal percentage, .416-.355...15 different Leathernecks have taken a shot, 12 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).

SCHOLAR ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Both Daniel Lewis and Andy Ryan have earned the Western Illinois 'Scholar Athlete of the Week' award this season, the most of any team on campus...Lewis earned the honor on Sept. 6th after scoring the game-winning goal in Western's 1-0 victory over Marquette on Sept. 4th (release located HERE)...Ryan earned the award on Sept. 26th after recording his Summit League leading third shutout this 2011 in Western's 1-0 win over Western Michigan on Sept. 25th.

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...One of two captains for this year's team...This season, Ryan has started eight games with a 4-3-1 mark...Owner of 37 saves, a .822 save percentage and 0.97 goal per game average...Named Summit League 'Defensive Player of the Week' Sept. 6 and 'co-Defensive Player of the Week' on Sept. 19th...Named Papa John's Scholar-Athlete of the Week on Sept. 26th...Leads the Summit League with three shutouts, a 0.97 goals against average, and a .822 save percentage...Sits second in the league in saves with 37...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 23, shots on goal with 12, goals with three, and points with six...His one game-winner sits tied for second in the Summit League, while his 23 shots rank second 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 20 shots and nine on goal, both of which rank second on the team...His four points and two assists each sit tied for second on the team...His 16 shots sits tied for third 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.

NATHAN BRUINSMA NOTES: Has played in all nine games for Western this season, starting seven of them...Owner of 19 shots, eight on goal...Owner of two goals this season, both game-winners...His two game-winning goals ranks tied for first in the Summit League...His first goal of 2011 was Western's game-winner in WIU's 4-0 win over DePaul (Sept. 17)...His second was the game-winner in Western's 1-0 victory over Western Michigan on the road (Sept. 25)...Owner of 1-0-2.

HUSREF JUPIC NOTES: Has played in all nine games for Western this season, starting eight 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 played in every game for Western this season, starting eight of them...Tallied 14 shots, five 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 six shots, three 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 eight 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.

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