MACOMB, Ill. - The Fighting Leatherneck men's soccer team (1-2-1) will travel to Dayton, Ohio this weekend to take part in the Dayton Invitational, which will be the final invitational the team will take part in this season.

The Leathernecks open the tournament against Butler (1-1-1) on Friday at 5:30 p.m. (EST), before facing the invitational host Dayton (0-3-0) at 2:30 p.m. (EST) on Sunday.

Last weekend Western took part in the 37th Annual Panther Invitational which was hosted by the Milwaukee Panthers. The Leathernecks dropped the first match of the tournament to Milwaukee, 2-0 (recap HERE), then earned their first victory of 2011, 1-0 over Marquette (recap HERE).

THE BREAKDOWN
 

VS. BUTLER

WHO: Western Illinois vs. Butler (1-1-1)
WHEN: Friday, Sept. 9 at 4:30 p.m.
LOCATION: Dayton, Ohio
STADIUM: Baujan Field (2,000)

LIVE STATS: HERE

TWITTER: HERE

VS. DAYTON

WHO: Western Illinois vs. Dayton (0-3-0)
WHEN: Sunday, Sept. 11 at 1:30 p.m.
LOCATION: Dayton, Ohio
FIELD: Baujan Field (2,000)

LIVE STATS: HERE

TWITTER: HERE

WEEKLY/TEAM NOTES

A LOOK AT THE BULLDOGS: Butler, a member of the Horizon League, enters the weekend with a 1-1-1 record...In its last action, Butler took part in the Michigan Invitational and finished the tournament 1-0-1 with a win over Michigan and a draw with 2010 Summit League champions, Oakland...Leading the team in points is Austin Oldham who owns 2-0--4 on the year...Three different bulldogs have scored goals, while four have earned helpers...In net, Andy Holte has started 2-of-3 matches in net for Butler and has made 12 saves, while allowing just two goals...The Bulldogs are coached by first-year head coach Paul Snape who helped lead the University of Michigan to a 17-5-3 overall and the 2010 NCAA Division I College Cup Final Four last season.

SERIES HISTORY: Western is 0-2-0 all-time against Butler...The two teams last met in 2005 and the Bulldogs defeated Western, 1-0. 

A LOOK AT THE FLYERS: Dayton, a member of the Atlantic 10, enter the weekend with a 0-3-0 record...Last weekend Dayton fell to a pair of ranked opponents in Notre Dame (4-1) and Indiana (6-0)...The Flyers have one goal on the season and it was scored by Greg Enstone and assisted by David Abidor...In net, Alec Storm has started all three matches for the Flyers accumulating 15 saves and allowing 11 goals...The Flyers are coached by third-year head coach Dennis Currier who owns a 21-16-7 while at Dayton and 251-87-30 overall in the college ranks.

SERIES HISTORY: Western is 1-1-0 all-time against Dayton...The two teams last met in 2006 with the Flyers earning a 2-0 victory. 

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 160-187-30 (.464) and a record of 117-134-27 (.469) 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.

CAPTAINS: Senior goalkeeper Andy Ryan and senior defender Kooten Johnson will serve as captains for this year's squad.

SHOTS: Leatherneck opponents have outshot Western in overall shots (59-80) this season, and shots on goal (22-27)...However, the Leathernecks hold the advantage in shots on goal percentage (.375 - .338)...11 different Leathernecks have tallied a shot...Seven different Leathernecks have put a shot on goal.

ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM: Senior goalkeeper Andy Ryan was named to the 37th Annual Panther Invitational All-Tournament team, along with teammate, senior midfielder Alexis Dominguez.

SUMMIT LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Western Illinois senior goalkeeper Andy Ryan was named Summit League 'Defensive Player of the Week' for his performance on the pitch this past week as announced by the league office Tuesday (Sept. 6).

BETWEEN THE PIPES: Senior goalkeeper and captain Andy Ryan returns to the Leatherneck soccer squad completing his first year as the starter in 2010...In his first week back from injury, he has started  three games with a 1-1-1 mark...Earned 19 saves, a .864 save percentage and 0.93 goal per game average...Named Summit League 'Defensive Player of the Week' Sept. 6...Last season, Ryan ranked in the following Summit League categories: first in saves per game (5.11), second in saves (92) and third in goals against average (.793).

2011 ROSTER BREAKDOWN: After losing eight seniors last season, Western Illinois will look to nine seniors this in 2011 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: 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 and Zachary Walsh).

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.

PLAYER NOTES

ANDY RYAN NOTES: Has 3-of-4 games for Western this season...One of two captains for this year's team...Owner of a team-best 19 saves...Three goals allowed...Owner of a 0.93 goals per game average and .864 save percentage...Member of the Summit League's 2010 'All-Conference' second team.

HILARY ESANGBEDO NOTES: Has started every game for Western this season...Scored Western's first goal of the season at home versus Drake (Aug. 29)...Owner of two shots, both on goal, and 1-0-2 on the season.

AARON APPEL NOTES: Has started every game for Western this season...Earned the team's first assist of the season at home versus Drake (Aug. 29)...Owner of three shots, one on goal, and 0-1-1 on the season.

CHARLIE BALES NOTES: Has started every game for Western this season...Owner of 11 shots, four on goal...Member of the Summit League's 2010 'All-Newcomer' squad.

DANIEL LEWIS NOTES: Has started every game for Western this season...Owner of a team-best 12 shots, six on goal, which is also a team-high...Scored the game-winner versus Marquette with :32 remaining in regulation to give Western its first win of 2011...Owner of 1-0-2.

ALEXIS DOMINGUEZ NOTES: Has started every game for Western this season...Has tallied seven shots, three on goal...Assisted on Daniel Lewis' game-winner over Marquette (Sept. 4)...Owner of 0-1-1.

KOOTEN JOHNSON NOTES: Has started every game for Western this season...One of two captains for this year's team...Owner of six shots, one on goal...Member of the Summit League's 2010 'All-Conference' second team.

EMPHRAIM OKEKE NOTES: Has started every game for Western this season...Owner of one shot.