Men's Soccer Set for Weekend Matches Against Valpo and Western Michigan

The Leathernecks travel to Valparaiso on Friday (Sept. 19) and return home Sunday (Sept. 21) against Western Michigan

MACOMB, Ill. - Western Illinois men's soccer looks to extend a two game unbeaten streak this weekend against Valparaiso and Western Michigan. On Friday (Sept. 19) the Leathernecks head to Valparaiso, Indiana for a match against the Crusaders at 7 p.m. The Leathernecks will return home Sunday (Sept. 21) to face off against the Western Michigan Broncos at 2:30 p.m. on John MacKenzie Alumni Field as the second half of a women's and men's soccer doubleheader.

MATCH LOGISTICS

Friday, September 19
WHO: Western Illinois at Valparaiso
WHEN: Friday, September 19 at 7 p.m. (CT)
WHERE: Brown Field, Valparaiso, Indiana
LIVE STATS: HERE
SOCIAL MEDIA: @WIUMensSoccer

Sunday, September 21
WHO: Western Illinois vs. Western Michigan
WHEN: Sunday, September 21 at 2:30 p.m. (CT)
WHERE: John MacKenzie Alumni Field
LIVE STATS: HERE
SOCIAL MEDIA: @WIUMensSoccer

WEEKEND NOTES:

SCOUTING THE CRUSADERS: Valpo enters Friday's matchup against the Leathernecks with an overall record of 2-1-2. The Crusaders are led by 8th year head coach Mike Avery. In its last action, Valpo suffered its first loss of the season, 1-0, at the hands of Northwestern University on Wednesday (Sept. 17). Before their defeat the Crusaders had boasted an undefeated 2-0-2 record led by goalkeeper Nico Campbell and a defense that allowed only one goal in four games... Only three players have scored for Valpo in 2014... Jacob Gandarilla, Omar Lawrence, and Jordan James are the lone Crusaders who have scored thus far.

A LOOK AT WESTERN MICHIGAN: The Broncos gallop into this weekend's action with 3-2-1 record, boasting a three game winning streak with wins over DePaul, Butler, and Eastern Illinois... Western Michigan is led by second year head coach Chad Wiseman who guided the Broncos to a 9-9-1 record in his first year at the helm after graduating from WMU in 2009... Before traveling to Macomb on Sunday Western Michigan will faceoff against Green Bay on Friday... The Bronco's offense in 2014 has been led by junior Nick Wysong (2 goals) and freshman Zach Bock (2 goals, 1 asssist)... WMU goalkeeper Chase Rau has accumulated a record of 3-1 with one shutout on 10 saves.

SERIES HISTORY: This weekend will mark Western's 28th meeting with Valparaiso in program history... The Leathernecks lead the series against the Crusaders 18-7-2 despite suffering a 5-2 loss in the teams last faceoff (9/22/13)... Western has gone up against Western Michigan on nine occasions all-time... WIU carries a 6-1-2 record into the 10th meeting between the Broncos and Leathernecks... Head coach Dr. Eric Johnson and the Purple and Gold last played the Broncos on Sept. 25, 2011, a game Western won, 1-0.

LAST TIME OUT: The Leathernecks enter their weekend series with a 2-3-1 record after going undefeated (1-0-1) at the High Point Plaza Classic last weekend (Sept. 12/14)... Against Radford, the Leathernecks found the lead twice, first in the 43rd minute on a Jacob Bevan goal and again in the 76th minute off a Charlie Bales free kick. However, two goals given up on sub-par defense made the end result a 2-2 draw after double overtime... Sunday's (Sept. 14) match against High Point saw Western strike first again as Jacob Bevan sent home his second goal of the weekend in the 26th minute. Following a Panther equalizer the Leathernecks would take back the lead in the 79th minute on a Drew Whalen header. This time the Purple and Gold would keep the lead and earn their second win of the season.

NATIONAL POLLS: While Western has yet to crack the NSCAA's top-25, its 2-3-1 record combined with the successful weekend at High Point has vaulted the Purple and Gold to no. 9 in the West Region rankings. WIU's jump skipped over Summit League foe Oral Roberts who sits 10th while Omaha and Denver sit no. 6 and no. 1, respectively, in the West.

SOPHOMORE SAVVY: Jacob Bevan's two goals and one assist at the High Point Plaza Classic vaulted the sophomore into the team lead in scoring with five points. Fellow sophomore Drew Whalen's gamewinning header against High Point on Sunday also put him into the top five in team scoring as well as tying him for second in The Summit League for gamewinning goals this season.

DEFENSE IS THE BEST OFFENSE: Since starting the season with only four shots in three games, Leatherneck defender Charlie Bales has exploded for eight shots over the last three games including his first points of the season against Radford with one goal and one assist. The senior captain is also in the nation's top 30 for the men's soccer Senior CLASS Award which honors accomplishments on and off the field for one NCAA Division I senior.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

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

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

#14 Jacob Bevan: F; 6' 2"; Sophomore; Oak Park River Forest

Players Mentioned

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

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

#14 Jacob Bevan
: 6' 2"; Sophomore; Oak Park River Forest
: F

Upcoming Events and Recent Results

Players Mentioned

#2 Charlie Bales

#7 Drew Whalen

#14 Jacob Bevan

Players Mentioned

#2 Charlie Bales

#7 Drew Whalen

#14 Jacob Bevan