MACOMB, Ill. - With only two weeks remaining until Summit League play begins, the Leathernecks (4-3-1) start to close out nonconference play with matches against Vaparaiso and Western Michigan on Friday and Sunday, respectively.

 MATCH NOTES

A LOOK AT THE CRUSADERS: Valparaiso enters Friday's match with the same record as Western Illinois, 4-3-1, and also went 0-1-1 last weekend. The Crusaders are 1-0-1 against Summit League schools. Also, Valparaiso knocked off Northwestern earlier this month, 1-0. All of Valparaiso's wins and their draw have come via shutouts. The Crusaders are led offensively by Hailey Chmela and Jordyn Ryfiak with three points each. In net, Kristen Manski has five shutouts in eight matches.

SERIES HISTORY: As former Mid-Con foes, the Leathernecks and Crusaders met annually from 1998-2006. Valparaiso currently holds a 7-2-1 record against Western Illinois but the schools have not met since October 2006, a 3-2 victory for Western Illinois.

A LOOK AT THE BRONCOS: Western Michigan will enter Sunday's match 1-3-2. The Broncos tied Northwestern last weekend, 0-0. Megan Ross leads the Broncos with four points on two goals. Michelle Watson has made 28 saves on 36 shots while recording three shutouts.

SERIES HISTORY: This will be the first meeting between Western Illinois and Western Michigan. After last weekend's match against Northern Illinois, Western Illinois is now 4-8-3 against schools from the Mid-America Conference.

LAST TIME OUT: Western Illinois was 0-1-1 last weekend. After falling to Missouri State in the 89th minute, 1-0, the Leathernecks traveled to Northern Illinois. The two schools met for the first time since 2008, and the match ended in a 1-1 draw after two overtimes. Kristin Becker scored her second goal of the year for Western Illinois.

LEVIN, MYERS RETURN TO MICHIGAN: While the schedule might list the trip to Western Michigan as an away match, it might feel like home for Western Illinois seniors Sloane Levin and Jennika Myers. Levin, from Hamburg, Mich. and Myers, from Shelby Township, Mich. will have the chance to play in their home state one last time during their collegiate careers.

A WEEK OFF: Following this weekend's matches, the Leathernecks will have one week off to prepare for the start of conference play beginning October 4th against South Dakota State in Macomb.

HOME, SWEET HOME: Western Illinois has won five if its past six matches in Macomb dating back to last season. Since 2008, Western Illinois is 20-10-4 at John Mackenzie Alumni Field.  

SPREADING THE WEALTH: Eight different Leathernecks have scored this season, the most of any Summit League school. Freshman Tyra Markey and senior Kristin Becker are the only two players on the team to score multiple goals in 2013, while four fellow seniors have also found the back of the net for Western Illinois. The Leathernecks currently rank fourth in goals scored (10) in The Summit League.

BIG TEN, BIG WIN: The Leathernecks' victory over Northwestern earlier this season was the first over a Big Ten school in program history.

SENIOR LEADERSHIP: It was two seniors who provided the scoring in the Leathernecks' 2-1 win over Northwestern on August 23. Jordan Walgren scored a late goal to level the match before Kristin Becker scored directly off a corner in the second overtime.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Laura Atkinson was named Summit League 'Defensive Player of the Week' for the sixth time in her career after her performance against Northwestern. The goalkeeper made nine saves against the Wildcats.

LEAGUE ROUND-UP: Denver travels to TCU and Nebraska. South Dakota faces North Dakota on Friday. South Dakota State hosts Kansas and North Dakota. IUPUI welcomes in-state rivals Ball State and Butler. North Dakota State will play Colorado State and Eastern Washington in Fargo, N.D. this weekend. Omaha travels to Creighton before playing Missouri State at home. Fort Wayne travels to Oakland on Saturday.

DAVIS IS CLASS: Senior Amber Davis has been named one of 30 semifinalists for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award. The award is given to the student-athlete that best exemplifies the four C's: Character, Community, Classroom and Competiton. The finalists for the award will be announced in October before the winner is announced at the Women's College Cup in December. If Davis is named a finalist, there will be a public voting portion. Stay tuned to goleathernecks.com for further information. Davis currently has one goal and one assist this season while anchoring a Leatherneck defense that has recorded two shutouts.

PRESEASON HONORS: Western Illinois had five members of the 2013 squad earn preseason All-League honors from College Sports Madness. Skyler Jessop, Amber Davis and Laura Atkinson were named First Team All-Conference while Sarah Hall and Sloane Levin were named to the Second Team. Atkinson was also named 'Goalkeeper of the Year'. In 2012, Davis and Atkinson were each named First Team All-Summit League with Atkinson earning the league's 'Goalkeeper of the Year' award as well.

RETURNERS: Leatherneck women's soccer returns 21 players from the 2012 squad that finished with 13 wins, second most in program history. Among the returning letter-winners are 2012 Summit League 'Goalkeeper of the Year' Laura Atkinson, Summit League All-Tournament Team selection Jordan Spaciel and First Team All-Summit League selection Amber Davis.

CAPTAINS: Four members of the Leatherneck women's soccer senior class, Sloane Levin, Amber Davis, Amy Bennett and Jordan Spaciel will captain the squad this season.

AT THE HELM: Ted Flogaites became the fifth Western Illinois women's soccer head coach in July 2012. He joined the Leatherneck family following a five year stint at Hastings College where he amassed a record of 76-22-9 for a .745 winning percentage. In his first year with the Leathernecks, he led the squad to a 13-win season, two short of tying the program record. Flogaites graduated from UC Santa Barbara in 1999 and was a member of the Gaucho men's soccer team.

PRESEASON POLL: The Leathernecks were picked to finish third in the 2013 Summit League Women's Soccer Preseason Poll. Western Illinois tallied 34 points. Denver was picked to finish first with 49 points and Fort Wayne was projected second with 39 points.