MACOMB, Ill. -
The Western Illinois men's soccer team travels to IUPUI on Saturday at 6 p.m. in attempt to win its second straight conference game.
The Fighting
Leathernecks (3-7-3, 1-1-2 Summit League) are also in a battle with
the Jaguars (5-8-2, 2-2 Summit League) for fourth-place in The Summit League standings.
IUPUI currently ranks fourth in the league with six points, with Western Illinois right behind at five points. With just two Summit League matches remaining after Saturday, this game has large implications in determining the top four of the standings and therefore a berth into The Summit League Tournament.
Western
Illinois will then close its season with a four-game home swing, beginning with a nonconference game against Bradley on Tuesday at 3 p.m.
THE BREAKDOWN
WHO: Western Illinois at IUPUI
WHEN: Saturday, October 20 at 6 p.m. CST
LOCATION: Indianapolis, Ind.
STADIUM: Michael A. Carroll Stadium (12,111)
Click HERE for live stats
Click HERE for match notes
MATCH NOTES
A LOOK AT THE JAGUARS: IUPUI enters today's game with a 5-8-2 mark, including 2-2 in The Summit League...The Jaguars have been strong as of late, playing to a 3-2-1 record in the last six matches...This contest marks IUPUI's final home game and Senior Day, honoring the squad's nine seniors...IUPUI sits in fourth place in the conference with six points, one point ahead of the Leathernecks for the final spot in The Summit League Tournament...The Jaguars are an impressive 4-2 at home, compared to a 1-6-2 mark on the road and at neutral sites...Kyle Hyland leads the league in goals (8) and shots (47), also in second in points (18)...Keeper Eduardo Cortes has made a league-high 86 saves, third-most in the nation, and also 6.14 saves per game, eighth in Division I.
SERIES HISTORY: IUPUI leads the all-time series by a 9-7-1 margin...The Jaguars are undefeated against the Leathernecks at home, holding an 8-0 record in Indianapolis...Last year, Western Illinois defeated IUPUI 1-0 less than three minutes into overtime on an Alexis Dominguez goal...Current assistant coach Andy Ryan saved all seven shots on goal he faced in the shutout...Current junior Charlie Bales took a game-high seven shots, four of them on goal.
LAST TIME OUT: The Leathernecks are coming off a 2-1 Summit League victory over Eastern Illinois...The win was the first for Western Illinois in more than a month, also marking the first time the team scored two goals since a 2-1 win over DePaul in late August... Senior Nathan Bruinsma and sophomore Mario Alvarez each notched their second goals of the season, while Bales recorded his team-high third assist and junior Drew Edmond added his first assist, as well...The Jaguars are coming off a 2-0 road win at Oral Roberts...Michael Sass tallied a goal and assist in the winning effort...Emile Garcia added an insurance goal late in the first half...Eduardo Cortes earned his fourth shutout of the season in net.
OFFENSIVE DEFENDER: Bales, a junior defender and the reigning Summit League Defensive Player of the Year, is also an offensive threat in addition to a significant defensive presence...He leads the team in assists (3) and has totaled 15 points and 98 shots in his three-year career as a Leatherneck.
CLOSE CONTESTS: Of the Leathernecks' seven losses, five have come by just one goal: Central Arkansas (1-0), Graceland (1-0), UIC (1-0), Northern Kentucky (1-0) and Drake (2-1).
BUILDING OFFENSE: The Leathernecks have scored in four straight games for the first time since scoring in eight consecutive games last year during a stretch when the team went 7-1, clinched The Summit League regular season title and won The Summit League tournament as well, before eventually being shut out in the College Cup.
FRESHMEN GALORE: After scoring in both of this season's exhibition games, freshman Tyler Chavez finally netted his first official collegiate goal against Fort Wayne on Oct. 6...Another freshman, Austin Gochneaur, is second on the team in points with two goals and one assist...Fellow freshman Ken Tryggestad scored in his first appearance off the bench against Oakland...Other freshmen have been strong contributors, as well, including Erick Bloom (11 games, 10 starts, 14 shots), Maclean Johnson (seven games, five starts, one assist), and Sammuel Worsley (eight games, six starts).
SUPER SENIOR: Bruinsma leads the team with six points on two goals and two assists...His game-winning goal against Omaha was his 13th of his career in Purple & Gold...He also recently surpassed 100 career shots, standing at 119 over his four years...He has finished either first or second on the team in goals scored each of his first three seasons.
READY TO REBOUND: The Leathernecks are 7-3-4 following a loss in the past two seasons.
