MACOMB, Ill. - Two days after defeating Eastern Illinois, the Western Illinois men's soccer team travels to regionally-ranked Bradley on Monday night for a 7 p.m. contest.
The Leathernecks (2-8) will take on the streaking Braves (5-3-1), who have beaten two top-three teams already this season, including most recently topping No. 3-ranked Northwestern 1-0.
BREAKDOWN:
WHO: Western Illinois at Bradley
WHEN: Monday, October 7 at 7 p.m.
WHERE: Shea Stadium
LIVE STATS: Click HERE
LIVE VIDEO/AUDIO: Click HERE
MATCH NOTES:
A LOOK AT THE BRAVES: Bradley enters the match with a 5-3-1 overall mark, including 2-1 at home...The Braves have upset a pair of top-three teams on the road this season, defeating top-ranked Connecticut 1-0 (Sept. 14) and most recently taking down third-ranked Northwestern, 3-2 in overtime (Oct. 2)...Wojciech Wojcik leads the team in assists (5) and points (7)...Alon Badat is tops on the team in goals (3)...Brian Billings has played every minute in goal, holding a 5-3-1 record, 1.28 goals against average and .786 save percentage...Bradley played Summit League member Denver to a 2-2 draw earlier this season.
SERIES HISTORY: Bradley holds a 15-14-1 advantage in the all-time series...Last year, the Leathernecks snapped a two-game losing skid by coming back from a second half deficit when Erick Bloom scored a 68th-minute equalizer to earn a 1-1 draw...Western Illinois last won in 2008, upsetting then-#18 Bradley 1-0 in overtime.
THIS DATE IN HISTORY (Oct. 7): The Leathernecks' most recent hat trick came on this date in 2006, when Matt Wieclaw scored three goals in a 6-1 win over Oral Roberts, helped by two Martin Browne Jr. assists...Western Illinois had three road wins in a four-year span on this date, defeating Northwestern 2-1 (2001), Oakland 2-0 (2000) and Howard 1-0 (1998).
LAST TIME OUT: Western Illinois snapped its seven-game losing streak by defeating Eastern Illinois 3-1 to earn the team's first conference win of the season...EIU scored first, but the Leathernecks scored three straight to earn the come-from-behind victory...Husref Jupic scored his team-leading fourth goal for the equalizer, before Diego Lopez notched his second game-winner of the year in the second half...Oscar Ortega added a late insurance goal to make the score 3-1...Jupic added two assists, while Ortega, Diego Gonzalez and Mario Alvarez added an assist apiece...Yves Dietrich made four saves to earn the victory in net.
WEEKLY HONORS: A pair of seniors received weekly honors on Oct. 7: Husref Jupic was named the Summit League 'Offensive Player of the Week' for the second time in his career, while Oscar Ortega was named the Western Illinois Papa John's Scholar-Athlete of the Week.
RECORD BOOK MOVEMENT: By recording his fifth career shutout at Jacksonville, Yves Dietrich moved into a three-way tie for ninth in program history...With a total of 133 career saves, he sits 10th in saves per game (4.29), fifth in goals against average (1.37), and 10th in save percentage (.751)...Since individual shot on goal statistics started being recorded in 2002, Husref Jupic ranks fourth in the program with 51, and he just entered the top 10 in shots, with 99 and shots per game, with 1.74.
ATOP THE SUMMIT: Several Leathernecks rank at the top of the conference in statistical categories...Husref Jupic is tied for the lead in in goals with four and second in points with 10...Yves Dietrich is second in saves (43) and save percentage (.705)...Diego Gonzalez is tied for fourth with three assists.
NATIONAL RANKINGS: Keeper Yves Dietrich ranks 32nd in the country in saves (43) and 64th in saves per game (4.3)...Husref Jupic ranks 85th in goals (4), 90th in points per game (1.11) and 95th in goals per game (0.44)...Diego Gonzalez sits right outside the top 100 with three assists.
TOUGH COMPETITION: Five of the first six Western Illinois opponents were unbeaten heading into the match against the Leathernecks...Western Illinois' first seven opponents all had one loss or less heading into the game against WIU.
CLOSE DEFEATS: Since the start of the 2012 season, 11 of the Leathernecks' 17 losses have come by just one goal, including six of the eight defeats this season.
GREAT DEBUT: Freshman Diego Lopez had a stellar debut weekend in Purple & Gold...He scored both Western Illinois goals, including his first collegiate goal at North Florida, and his first career game-winning goal at Jacksonville...His efforts earned him The Summit League's first 'Offensive Player of the Week' award of the season.
PRESEASON ALL-SUMMIT LEAGUE: Charlie Bales, Drew Edmond and Austin Gochneaur were named to the College Sports Madness Preseason All-League Team...Bales earned a First Team nod, while Edmond and Gochneaur received Second Team honors.
WINNING LEGACY: Dr. Eric Johnson is the Summit League's all-time winningest coach, totaling 138 wins through his time at the helm at Western Illinois...He has earned the conference's 'Coach of the Year' award four times.
Projected Starters:
