MACOMB, Ill. - The Western Illinois men's soccer team continues its 2015 season on Saturday, October 3, as the Leathernecks hit the road to take on Oral Roberts in Summit League action. The league contest between WIU and the Golden Eagles will begin at 7 p.m. at the Case Soccer Complex. Following Saturday's contest, Western will return home to host Bradley in a midweek, nonconference game. The game between the Leathernecks and Braves will begin at 4 p.m. on Monday, October 5.
A LOOK AT THE OPPONENTS: Oral Roberts enters Saturday's contest with a 3-4-1 mark and a 1-0 Summit League record. Matthew Rogers serves as the top target for the Golden Eagles, as his four goals on the season lead the team. Junior goalie Ben LaCourse handles the netminding duties and has recorded 13 saves and allowed 1.99 goals per game on the year. Bradley will take its 4-5 record to the field Friday night as the Braves host Gonzaga. Frank Bak leads the way for Bradley with a season-high three goals. Logan Ketterer handles the goalkeeping duties and has tallied 39 saves and a 1.52 goals allowed per game average.
SERIES HISTORIES: Western Illinois and Oral Roberts will be meeting for the 25th time, with the Leathernecks holding a 14-8-2 advantage over the Golden Eagles. The two teams last met on Nov. 14, 2014, with Western knocking Oral Roberts out of The Summit League Tournament, 2-1. Monday's nonleague contest against Bradley will the 32nd meeting between Western and Bradley, with the two sides splitting a 15-15-1 series record. Bradley and Western last met in the 2013 season, in Peoria, with Western collecting a 4-2 victory. The two sides met in Macomb in the 2012 season, a game that ended in a 1-1 draw.
LAST TIME OUT: The Leathernecks opened Summit League play on Saturday, September 26, as Western Illinois hosted 12th ranked Denver. Denver, the reigning Summit League champions, netted a goal in each half en route to a 2-0 victory. The Pioneers, now ranked 8th in the latest NSCAA rankings, remain unbeaten in 2015.
RETURNERS: Western Illinois returns a solid core from the 2014 team that made it to The Summit League championship game. Senior Erick Bloom, a First Team All-Summit League selection in 2014 anchors the back line while senior Austin Gochneaur, a Second Team honoree, leads the attack. Sophomore midfielders Jacob Bjornsen and Alejandro Pacheco were named to the All-Newcomer Team following the 2014 campaign.
FRESH FACES: The Leathernecks welcome nine new members to the 2015 roster. Freshmen Sam Copp, Bruce Corrie, Jamison Kozar, Nathan Bergstrom, and Josh Illana come off of standout prep careers. Sophomores Amadeo Ramon and Aziz Tahir join the program, as do juniors Nick Arnold and Johnathan Goliday.
WINNING LEGACY: Dr. Eric Johnson is the Summit League's all-time winningest coach, totaling 151 wins through his 18 years at the helm at Western Illinois. 2015 will mark Johnson's 19th season leading the Purple and Gold. He has earned the conference's 'Coach of the Year' award four times.
PRESEASON POLL: Western Illinois was picked to finish third in The Summit League's preseason poll, which was voted on by the league's coaches. Western collected 30 points, including two first-place votes, while Omaha (31 points, 2 first-place) and Denver (32 points, 3 first-place) led the way. For the first time in Summit League history, the top three teams were separated by one point each. |
