Leathernecks Spring Past Kangaroos, 4-1

Three goals in final eight minutes secures first victory in 2015

Box Score KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Thanks to three goals in the final eight minutes of the game, the Western Illinois men's soccer team secured a 4-1 decision over Kansas City on Saturday, September 19. Four different Leathernecks tallied goals on the afternoon as Western Illinois picked up its first victory of the season. The Purple and Gold improve to 1-5-1 while Kansas City falls to 2-3-1.

"Hard fought win for us today. Scored a good goal to go ahead but gave one up on the counter attack," said head coach Dr. Eric Johnson. "Had a nice goal out of Nathan Bergstrom who had just come in off the bench. Bruce Corrie played well and made some nice saves. We hung in there and got the game winner, and then a couple more to add on to it. Pretty pleased but we still didn't have great fitness today. We still have a ways to go but it was definite improvement and of course we are happy to get the win. This result will hopefully lead us to bigger and better things."

With under 10 minutes to play, it looked like the Leathernecks and 'Roos would head to overtime tied at one. But in the 83rd minute, freshman Nathan Bergstrom netted his first goal as a Leatherneck to put the road team up by a goal late in the game. Bergstrom found himself all alone with the ball and led the breakaway towards net. The freshman was able to dribble around the Kansas City goalkeeper and put one in the back of the net.

With Kansas City pushing the attack, Western was able to counter twice in less than a minute to seal the victory. First it was the Pacheco brothers who teamed up to give WIU a 3-1 lead in the early moments of the 90th minute. On the heels of a counter attack, Fernando Pacheco found his younger brother Alejando in the box, and his one-touch finish put Western comfortably ahead by two with less than a minute to play. For Alejandro, it was his first goal of the season.

But the Leathernecks weren't done, as 20 seconds later the Western attack struck for its fourth goal of the afternoon. Western once again caught Kansas City in a counter attack, but this time it was Drew Whalen and Armel Kouassi leading the attack. Whalen found Kouassi, whose easy finish put an exclamation point on the four-goal afternoon for the Purple and Gold.

The three goal outburst in the second half followed an opening 45 minutes that saw Western and Kansas City each tally a goal. Whalen got the scoring started, as his strike in the 40th minute put Western ahead 1-0. Maclean Johnson found Whalen in the box, and Whalen's two-touch finish beat the Kansas City keeper. Less than two minutes later, the Kangaroos evened the score at one-all. The one goal is all that freshman Bruce Corrie, who was making his second consecutive start, would allow. The native of Redmond, Washington, ended the day with five saves in net for Western.

Western looks to continue its winning ways as the Leathernecks return home on Monday, September 21, for a contest against Loras. The game against the Duhawks, who are ranked No. 6 in the latest NSCA Division III poll, is set to begin at 5 p.m. at John MacKenzie Alumni Field.

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Players Mentioned

#12 Maclean Johnson: MF; 5' 10"; Junior; Macomb

#28 Armel Kouassi: F; 5' 11"; Sophomore; Homewood-Flossmoor

#10 Fernando Pacheco: F; 5' 7"; Junior; Iowa City

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

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

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

Players Mentioned

#12 Maclean Johnson
: 5' 10"; Junior; Macomb
: MF

#28 Armel Kouassi
: 5' 11"; Sophomore; Homewood-Flossmoor
: F

#10 Fernando Pacheco
: 5' 7"; Junior; Iowa City
: F

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

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

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