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Western Illinois University Athletics

MSOC_FortWayne_FP
WIU Visual Productions Center
0
IPFW IPFW (3-5-3 (1-1))
1
Winner Western Ill. WIU (5-4-1 (1-0))
IPFW IPFW
(3-5-3 (1-1))
0
Final
1
Western Ill. WIU
(5-4-1 (1-0))
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
IPFW IPFW 0 0 0
Western Ill. WIU 1 0 1

Game Recap: Men's Soccer | | WIU Athletic Communications

Leathernecks celebrate homecoming with a 1-0 win over Fort Wayne

Western Illinois defeated the Mastodons in the Leatherneck's Summit League opener on Saturday (Oct. 4).

MACOMB, Ill. - On a cold windy homecoming in Macomb, the leg of senior captain Charlie Bales spelled disaster for yet another foe as the Western Illinois men's soccer team defeated Fort Wayne 1-0 in its Summit League opener on Saturday (Oct. 4). Bales took advantage of his third penalty kick in two games to seal Western's third consecutive win and a 1-0 Summit League record.

"We opened at home with a win in the league so that is really really good for us," said head coach Dr. Eric Johnson. "I saw a lot of good play and we got the penalty, which we will take. Hats off to our guys for working hard and playing in the environment they did, playing well in the second half, and shutting out a pretty decent team."

Saturday's noon kickoff was met with a game-time temperature of 45 degrees and winds gusting up to 20 miles per hour, the most frigid conditions for the Leathernecks thus far in 2014. The first half opened with Western taking advantage of the wind. This would prove to be decisive as the Purple and Gold were able to use the wind to create 11 first half opportunities.

One of the 11 shots would come in the first 10 minutes as the Mastodons would commit a hand ball in the penalty area on a dangerous Leatherneck service giving Western a penalty kick opportunity. Shot specialist, and defender, Charlie Bales would step to the spot for WIU and send his strike right down the middle for the goal at the 9:14 mark. The first half would close with the Purple and Gold holding an 11-1 shots advantage.

The second half would open with Western fighting the wind, and Fort Wayne would use their advantage to take eight shots of their own, holding WIU to just one. However, three late saves by senior Yves Dietrich would clinch the win for the Leathernecks and Dietrich's third straight shutout, his fourth of the season.

Junior Austin Gochneaur would notch two shots on goal in the win while senior Mario Alvarez also contributed two shots of his own. In total, seven Leathernecks would tally a total of 12 attempts with five going on goal, while limiting the Mastodons to just eight.

Western Illinois men's soccer returns to action this Tuesday, October 7 at home against Milwaukee. The game is scheduled for a 3 p.m. start and slated to be held on John MacKenzie Alumni Field.
 





 
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