MACOMB, Ill. – Western Illinois Men's Soccer is set to open its 2014 season with the first of two exhibitions as head coach Dr. Eric Johnson and the Fighting Leathernecks travel to DeKalb, Ill. for a match against the Northern Illinois Huskies on Saturday, Aug. 16.
 
Saturday's game will mark the second time in 2014 that the in-state rivals have played each other. The last time the two teams met was April 19 in the spring Governor's cup. 
   
The Leathernecks look to return to The Summit League Tournament after a 1-0 loss to top seeded Denver in the 2013 league tournament final. The 2014 campaign has the Leathernecks playing 18 regular season games. Six of those matches are against conference foes, and seven of the 18 contests are set to be played on the road. More information on the 2014 schedule is available in the full release found HERE. For additional statistical and historical information on the 2014 Leathernecks, see the notes below, or click on the QUICK FACTS and RECORD BOOK.
  
BOUNCE BACK: Following a 6-13 (3-3) campaign in 2013 and a 1-0 loss to top seeded Denver in the Summit League Tournament Championship game, 18th-year head coach Dr. Eric Johnson and the Leathernecks look to return to the Summit League tournament as a top-three seed for the 13th time in program history.
 
IT'S THE GOALIE: Senior goalkeeper and captain, Yves Dietrich, returns for his third and final season as a Leatherneck…After cementing his role as a starter in 2012, the UW-Whitewater transfer has put up career numbers, ranking top 10 in nearly every goalkeeping category in WIU program history…In 2013, the netminder notched 90 saves in 19 games played, recorded 1712:10 in goal and posted three shutouts.
 
THE RETURN: 2014 marks the return of fifth-year senior captain Charlie Bales…After sitting out in 2013 due to injury, the 2011 Summit League 'Defensive Player of the Year' and Summit League tournament MVP brings three years of experience to the Leatherneck defensive line…The 2012 Second Team All-Region and First Team All-Summit League honoree currently ranks in Western's top 10 for career shots, shots per game, shots on goal, shots on goal per game.
 
LETTERWINNERS/STARTERS: The Purple and Gold roster returns 18 letterwinners and nine starters…Five out of Western's top seven goal scorers from 2013's squad, including Diego Lopez (3), Drew Whalen (3), Oscar Ortega (2), Mario Alvarez (2) and Erik Bloom (2), return to the pitch in 2014 for WIU…Mario Alvarez also returns as the Leathernecks top shot taker from 2013 with 40.
 
NEWCOMERS: A total of nine new faces join the program for the upcoming season….Seven true freshman become leathernecks for the first time…Two transfers in Jorge Barralaga and Kyle Walton join the squad after previously playing for current Leatherneck assistant coach Cole Johnson at Lincoln College…Dan Lewis also joins the men as a "newcomer"...The former Leatherneck midfielder (2010-11) returns to Western as an assistant coach.
 
MILESTONE: Heading into his 18th season as head coach of the Fighting Leathernecks, Dr. Eric Johnson is just 15 wins away from 200 all-time (185-214-35)…With the Purple and Gold, Johnson has been honored as Summit League 'Coach of the Year' four times, taken home six Summit League Tournament titles and made six appearances in the NCAA College Cup.