MACOMB, Ill. - The Western Illinois men's soccer team fell 1-0 to Graceland in its regular season opener at John MacKenzie Alumni Field on Friday evening.

The Fighting Leathernecks drop to 0-1 on the season despite taking 19 shots compared to just five for the Yellowjackets, who improve to 1-0.

Brandon Beresord headed in the lone goal of the game late in the first half off a Milan Bogic free kick, giving Graceland a lead it never relented.

In the second period, Western Illinois outshot Graceland 14-3 and took nine corner kicks to Graceland's zero, but the Leathernecks were unable to find the back of the net.

"You have to defend on every play," head coach Dr. Eric Johnson said. "One mistake can cost you the game and that's what happened today."

Western Illinois put four shots on goal, but Graceland keeper Christian Quintanilla was able to stop all four.

Senior Nathan Bruinsma led the Leathernecks with five shots, two of them on goal, while Quinlin Johnson and Maclean Johnson each had a shot on goal as well.

"They only had five shots total so obviously we stifled their offense pretty well," Johnson said. "When you start five [newcomers] and they play as well as they did, you have to be happy about that."

Sophomore Yves Dietrich took the loss in goal for the Leathernecks to fall to 0-1, allowing one goal while making a pair of saves.

The Leathernecks will close out their short home stand on Sunday when they play host to Central Arkansas at 11 a.m. at John MacKenzie Alumni Field.

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