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Western Illinois University Athletics

Whalen Fp
0
Eastern Illinois EIU (2-9-0 (0-3-0))
6
Winner Western Illinois WIU (5-8-1 (2-2-0))
Eastern Illinois EIU
(2-9-0 (0-3-0))
0
Final
6
Western Illinois WIU
(5-8-1 (2-2-0))
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Eastern Illinois EIU 0 0 0
Western Illinois WIU 2 4 6

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

Leathernecks Blank Panthers, 6-0, in Summit League Action

Drew Whalen's hat trick propels Western to fifth-most goals in WIU Division I history

MACOMB, Ill. - Drew Whalen netted his first-career hat trick and the Leatherneck offense poured in the fifth most goals in the program's Division I history Saturday (Oct. 17) afternoon, as Western Illinois blanked instate foe Eastern Illinois by a final score of 6-0. The victory moved Western to 2-2 in The Summit League (5-8-1 overall) as the Leathernecks look to position themselves for a berth in the league tournament. EIU dropped to 0-3 in the league and 2-9-0 overall with the shutout defeat.
 
"I thought we were a little tight to start because it was such a big game for us, to get that second win in the league," said head coach Dr. Eric Johnson. "I thought we started a little slow, not with our energy, energy was fantastic, but our feet were a little bit tight and hard. As we warmed into the game I think we got better and better. We showed a little bit of killer instinct today. Great win for us to get that second league win and a confidence builder, hopefully."
 
Whalen's three-goal output marks just the 15th time in WIU's Division I history that an individual netted at least three goals. The junior's hat trick fell one goal shy of the single-game record of four goals by Ken Dugan, set in 1986.
 
A native of Peoria, Illinois, Whalen put the Purple and Gold ahead 1-0 in the 27th minute following a perfect passing sequence. Senior Maclean Johnson flicked the ball into the box and found Diego Lopez on the right side of the keeper. Lopez then immediately fed the ball to Whalen, whose shot found the back of the empty net to put WIU up one early.
 
Whalen would strike again less than eight minutes later, as he scored on a nearly identical play in the 34th minute. This time it was Lopez playing the ball off to Fernando Pacheco, whose entry into the box found Whalen in front of the keeper. Whalen's head connected with the ball, and the header would wind up in the back of the net for the second goal for The Summit League's leading goal scorer.
 
Western's 2-0 halftime lead was quickly extended to 3-0 seven minutes into the second half, as Whalen completed his hat trick. Jacob Bjornsen and Austin Gochneaur combined on a passing sequence that saw the ball fed into the box. In the middle of a congested net, it was Whalen who would get a foot on the ball, and his shot deflected off of a Panther defender and into the back of the net.
 
The hat trick is the first WIU hat trick in over nine years, as Matt Wieclaw was the last Leatherneck to accomplish the feat, which he did on October 7, 2006 against Oral Roberts. On the year, Whalen has nine goals and 21 points, both tops in The Summit League.
 
Following the hat trick, it was time for three other Leathernecks to tally goals. Sammuel Worsley, Jacob Bevan, and Fernando Pacheco would each find the back of the net over the course of 10 minutes to push Western's advantage to six.
 
Worsley's two-touch finish in the box in the 77th minute was the first of the year for Worsley, and came following a Whalen assist. Whalen's helper saw his point total on the day climb to seven points, tied for second-most in WIU history. Dugan and Ted Eck each tallied seven points in a game, while Dugan holds the record with a 10-point showing in '86.
 
Bevan netted his fourth goal of the season in the 84th minute, as he beat the keeper to the upper left of goal. The entry into the box came from Pacheco, who had two helpers on the day. Pachecho now has seven assists on the season, which ranks best in The Summit League.
 
Pacheco would cap off the Leatherneck scoring effort with his second goal of the season just under two minutes later in the 86th minute. Pacheco, like Bevan, beat the keeper to the top left of the frame, and was assisted on the play by Tyler Chavez.
 
Western's nine assists on the day ranks second in WIU DI history, while the six goal margin of victory is the largest margin since November 2, 2013, when Western defeated IUPUI by a 5-0 final.
 
The Leatherneck defense swarmed to the Panther attack today, as Eastern Illinois was only able to muster off two shots, and none in the second half. Freshman Bruce Corrie was called on to make one save as he recorded his second shutout of the season.
 
"The goals weren't sloppy goals, they were goals from good passing and good combinations. To have another shutout at home was huge, so the back line was really good today. Armel (Kouassi), Maclean (Johnson), and Amadeo (Carbo) were really good defensively in the midfield so that is starting to take shape and give us the idea that we can defend some people now," added Johnson.
 
The Leathernecks now have a week to train before taking to the field for their next match. Western will hit the road on Saturday, October 24, as the Purple and Gold take on Fort Wayne in Summit League competition. Kickoff in Fort Wayne is set for 6 p.m. (CT).
 
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