MACOMB, Ill. – The Western Illinois women's soccer team is gearing up for its last road matches of the season. On Friday, October 23, the Leathernecks will head to Denver, Colorado, to take on the Pioneers in an 8 p.m. CT kick. Western will then trek to Vermillion, South Dakota, for a Summit League matchup against the South Dakota Coyotes at noon on Sunday, October 25.
 
The Leathernecks are 1-3 in league play (2-11 overall), and are currently in eighth place in the standings. Skyler Jessop leads the squad with three goals, while Daniela Salinas and Brianna Hughes each have two goals apiece. Tyra Markey leads the team with two assists. Senior goalkeeper Victoria Kappel has spent over 1,130 minutes in goal. She has compiled 49 saves and has allowed 28 goals.
 
A LOOK AT THE PIONEERS: The Pioneers post a 1-3 record in The Summit League (1-11-1 overall) to rank ninth in the standings. Denver picked up its first win on October 16, a 1-0 victory over Fort Wayne. Stella Norman leads the team with two goals and one assist. Four other players have also scored one goal apiece. Cassidy Rey will be in net for Denver. She has allowed 23 goals and has made 49 stops.
 
SERIES HISTORY: Western will be looking for its first victory in program history over Denver on Friday, as they trail the all-time series 0-2. Last season, the Leathernecks lost at home to Denver by a score of 1-0, and fell 2-0 the previous season on the road.
 
A LOOK AT THE COYOTES: South Dakota sits in fifth place in The Summit League with a 2-3 (5-11 overall) record. Corey Strang is the Coyotes' offensive target, as she has four goals and four assists on the season. Sammie Villwock also contributes with three goals and two assists. Sydney Hardin has spent the majority of the time in goal, with 47 saves and 21 goals allowed. The Coyotes will take on IUPUI on October 23 before welcoming the Leathernecks to Vermillion.
 
SERIES HISTORY: South Dakota and Western will be facing off for the sixth time in program history on Sunday. Western narrowly trails the all-time series 2-3-1. Last season, the Leathernecks defeated the Coyotes at home by a score of 4-3 to close out the season. Jessop scored one of the WIU's three goals off an assist from Hughes in the win.
 
 LAST TIME OUT: Western dropped a pair of league matches over the past weekend (October 16 and 18) to Omaha and IUPUI. The Leathernecks came out hot in its road match against Omaha, as Daniela Salinas netted her second goal of the season in the ninth minute. Western held its lead for the majority of the match up until the last twenty minutes of play when Omaha scored three consecutive goals to take the match by a score of 3-1. The Purple and Gold looked to bounce back the following Sunday against IUPUI, as Skyler Jessop scored her third goal of the season midway through the first half following a corner kick from Madeline Edwards. The Leathernecks held IUPUI scoreless until the 50^th minute when the Jaguars got on the board. IUPUI would go on to score two more times and grabbed the win by a score of 3-1.
 

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