WIU Athletics

Men's Soccer Wednesday, August 27, 2014 WIU Athletic Communications

Men's Soccer to Open 2014 Regular Season at Hotels at Grand Prairie Classic

Western will take on UNLV Friday (Aug. 29) at 4:30 p.m. and San Jose State Sunday (Aug. 31) at 12 p.m.

MACOMB, Ill. – The Western Illinois men's soccer team is set to kick off the 2014 regular season this weekend in Peoria, Ill. in the Hotels at Grand Prairie Classic hosted by Bradley. The Leathernecks take on UNLV, Friday (Aug. 29) at 4:30 p.m., and San Jose State on Sunday (Aug. 31) at 12 p.m.

The weekend's matches mark Western's first meeting in program history with both UNLV and San Jose State.

MATCH LOGISTICS

WHO: Western Illinois vs. UNLV
WHEN: Friday, August 29 at 4:30 p.m.
WHERE: Shea Stadium, Peoria, Ill.

WHO: Western Illinois vs. San Jose State
WHEN: Sunday, August 31 at 12 p.m.
WHERE: Shea Stadium, Peoria, Ill.

LIVE STATS: HERE
SOCIAL MEDIA: @WIUMensSoccer
VIDEO STREAMING: HERE
(Subscription for video stream required, 24hr passes available)

WEEKEND NOTES:

LAST TIME OUT: The Purple and Gold enter opening weekend coming off a 1-0 preseason finale win over Loyola-Chicago last Saturday (Aug. 23)….Western's win over the Ramblers capped off a 1-0-1 preseason campaign which also featured a 0-0 draw against the Huskies of Northern Illinois…WIU's lone goal came from Armel Kouassi on a Mario Alvarez cross touched on by Ben Fiddes in the 52nd minute.

A LOOK AT THE REBELS: The UNLV Rebels enter the 2014 opener against WIU led by fourth year head coach Rich Ryerson…The Rebels return nine starters from a 2013 squad that placed third in the WAC…Returning starters feature four all-conference selections including two-time All-Region selection, Salvador Bernal…UNLV's preseason campaign featured a lone exhibition against Cal-Baptist resulting in 1-0 win for the Rebels… UNLV was picked to finish second in the Western Athletic Conference preseason poll.

A LOOK AT THE SPARTANS: San Jose State enters Sunday's game against Western under the direction of first year head coach Simon Tobin…Tobin is just the third head coach of the Spartans since 1954 and has a career record of 305-189-54…SJSU's 2013 campaign ended in a 2-1 loss to Seattle U in the Western Athletic Conference championship game…The Spartans return only one senior goal scorer in Frankie Beauchamp but four freshman scorers including leading striker Rory Knibbs (8)…San Jose State was picked fourth in the Western Athletic Conference preseason poll.

LEATHERNECKS ON OPENING DAY: Since 1983 the Purple and Gold have an opening day record of 11-18-2…Four of the 31 matches have gone into overtime.

SUMMIT LEAGUE PRESEASON POLL: Western Illinois men's soccer received 28 points in the annual preseason poll released Wednesday (Aug. 20) by The Summit League office. The 28 votes placed the Purple and Gold third out of seven teams in the preseason poll. Last year's regular season and Summit League Tournament champions, Denver, were selected to repeat as regular season champions. Omaha claimed a first place vote and finished second in the poll, one point ahead of Western, while Oral Roberts, IUPUI, Eastern Illinois and Fort Wayne rounded out the bottom four.

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.

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Players Mentioned

#25 Ben Fiddes: MF; 6' 0"; Sophomore; Peoria Notre Dame

#28 Armel Kouassi: F; 5' 11"; Freshman; Homewood-Flossmoor

#1 Yves Dietrich: GK; 6' 1"; Senior; UW-Whitewater

#13 Diego Lopez: F/MF; 5' 6"; Sophomore; Warsaw Community

#10 Mario Alvarez: MF; 5' 10"; Senior; Aurora West

#11 Oscar Ortega: MF; 5' 11"; Senior; Hononegah / Rockford College

#2 Charlie Bales: D; 5' 8"; Senior; Xavier

#7 Drew Whalen: F/MF; 6' 1"; Sophomore; Peoria Notre Dame

#5 Kyle Walton: D; 6' 1"; Junior; St. Marguerite d'Youville / Lincoln College

#20 Jorge Barralaga: D; 5' 10"; Senior; Miami Senior/McKendree University

Players Mentioned

#25 Ben Fiddes
: 6' 0"; Sophomore; Peoria Notre Dame
: MF

#28 Armel Kouassi
: 5' 11"; Freshman; Homewood-Flossmoor
: F

#1 Yves Dietrich
: 6' 1"; Senior; UW-Whitewater
: GK

#13 Diego Lopez
: 5' 6"; Sophomore; Warsaw Community
: F/MF

#10 Mario Alvarez
: 5' 10"; Senior; Aurora West
: MF

#11 Oscar Ortega
: 5' 11"; Senior; Hononegah / Rockford College
: MF

#2 Charlie Bales
: 5' 8"; Senior; Xavier
: D

#7 Drew Whalen
: 6' 1"; Sophomore; Peoria Notre Dame
: F/MF

#5 Kyle Walton
: 6' 1"; Junior; St. Marguerite d'Youville / Lincoln College
: D

#20 Jorge Barralaga
: 5' 10"; Senior; Miami Senior/McKendree University
: D

Upcoming Events and Recent Results

Western Illinois University Athletics

Men's Soccer to Open 2014 Regular Season at Hotels at Grand Prairie Classic

Western will take on UNLV Friday (Aug. 29) at 4:30 p.m. and San Jose State Sunday (Aug. 31) at 12 p.m.

Players Mentioned

#25 Ben Fiddes

#28 Armel Kouassi

#1 Yves Dietrich

#13 Diego Lopez

#10 Mario Alvarez

#11 Oscar Ortega

#2 Charlie Bales

#7 Drew Whalen

#5 Kyle Walton

#20 Jorge Barralaga

Players Mentioned

#25 Ben Fiddes

#28 Armel Kouassi

#1 Yves Dietrich

#13 Diego Lopez

#10 Mario Alvarez

#11 Oscar Ortega

#2 Charlie Bales

#7 Drew Whalen

#5 Kyle Walton

#20 Jorge Barralaga