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Men's Soccer Sunday, August 16, 2015 WIU Athletic Communications

Men's Soccer Opens 2015 Season With Exhibition at DePaul

Leathernecks look to capture 7th Summit League title in 2015

MACOMB, Ill. - The Fighting Leatherneck men's soccer team kicks off the 2015 season on Monday, August 17, as they travel to Chicago to take on DePaul in an exhibition. The exhibition, one of two on the WIU schedule this year, is set to begin at 12 p.m. at Wish Field.

A LOOK AT DEPAUL: Monday's exhibition against Western will be the opener for DePaul, who enters 2015 after a 4-10-4 (1-6-2) record a season ago. The team is led by junior forward Simon Megally, who led the team in points last season while ranking second in goals. Senior Mack Robinson will be the Blue Demons' goalkeeper, where he ranked second in the BIG EAST in saves and saves per game last season. The team is led by Craig Blazer, who enters his 15th season as the head coach.

SERIES HISTORY: Western leads the all-time series, 5-2-1, with the two teams last meeting in 2012. Austin Gochneaur, a freshman at the time, scored two goals in Western's 2-1 victory over the Blue Demons.

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.

2014 Recap: The Leathernecks ended the 2014 regular season with a 9-7-3 record and a 3-2-1 mark in Summit League play. Western finished the season in a tie for first place in The Summit League, the fourth time the Leathernecks won or shared the regular season title under head coach Dr. Eric Johnson. Western defeated Oral Roberts by a 2-1 final in the semifinals of The Summit League Championships before falling to Denver, 3-1, in the championship game.

WINNING LEGACY: Dr. Eric Johnson is the Summit League's all-time winningest coach, totaling 151 wins through his 18 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: The Summit League preseason poll will be announced on August 19.

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Players Mentioned

#3 Jacob Bjornsen: MF; 5' 7"; Sophomore; CR Washington

#15 Erick Bloom: F; 5' 11"; Senior; Centennial

#4 Austin Gochneaur: F; 6' 3"; Senior; Ankeny

#16 Alejandro Pacheco: MF/F; 5' 9"; Sophomore; Iowa City

#1 Bruce Corrie: GK; 6' 0"; Freshman; Mount Si

#0 Sam Copp: GK; 6' 2"; Freshman; Takapuna Grammar School

#19 Nathan Bergstrom: MF; 5' 8"; Freshman; Prior Lake

#18 Jamison Kozar: D; 5' 11"; Freshman; Blaine

#20 Aziz Tahir: D; 6' 0"; Sophomore; Park Center / Dubuque

#26 Johnathan Goliday: MF; 5' 8"; Junior; Madison Central / Mississippi Gulf Coast CC

#2 Nick Arnold: D; 5' 6"; Junior; Peoria Notre Dame / Illinois Central College

Players Mentioned

#3 Jacob Bjornsen
: 5' 7"; Sophomore; CR Washington
: MF

#15 Erick Bloom
: 5' 11"; Senior; Centennial
: F

#4 Austin Gochneaur
: 6' 3"; Senior; Ankeny
: F

#16 Alejandro Pacheco
: 5' 9"; Sophomore; Iowa City
: MF/F

#1 Bruce Corrie
: 6' 0"; Freshman; Mount Si
: GK

#0 Sam Copp
: 6' 2"; Freshman; Takapuna Grammar School
: GK

#19 Nathan Bergstrom
: 5' 8"; Freshman; Prior Lake
: MF

#18 Jamison Kozar
: 5' 11"; Freshman; Blaine
: D

#20 Aziz Tahir
: 6' 0"; Sophomore; Park Center / Dubuque
: D

#26 Johnathan Goliday
: 5' 8"; Junior; Madison Central / Mississippi Gulf Coast CC
: MF

#2 Nick Arnold
: 5' 6"; Junior; Peoria Notre Dame / Illinois Central College
: D