WIU Kicks Off Regular Season At Indiana State

The women's soccer team opens the season at Indiana State on Friday (Aug. 19).

MACOMB, Ill. - The Western Illinois women's soccer team kicks off the 2016 season with a road trip to Indiana State on Aug. 19 at 7 p.m. The Leathernecks are led by Director of Soccer Eric Johnson, the winningest all-time men's coach in Summit League history, who expands his duties and enters his first season over the women's program.

A LOOK AT YOUR LEATHERNECKS: Western Illinois returns 22 players from last season, with a roster that includes one senior, seven juniors, 12 sophomores and eight freshmen. The team loses five starters from last season, but welcomes six newcomers that include five freshmen and one transfer. Western's returning starters combine for 101 played games and 75 starts from last season. The Leathernecks 2016 schedule features eight home matches, with the first one on Sept. 2 against Milwaukee at 3 p.m.

WATCH ESPN: The Western Illinois vs. Indiana State match will be streamed live on ESPN3 and the WatchESPN app. Fans can view the match by clicking on the link under "COVERAGE" on the right.

A LOOK AT THE SYCAMORES: This will also be the season opener for Indiana State, after playing two exhibition matches against Eastern Kentucky and UIC. Head coach Julie Hanley enters her first year over the women's program. The Sycamores roster consists of 12 freshmen, nine sophomores, three juniors and five seniors. Indiana State finished 6-10-1 and 1-4-1 in the Missouri Valley Conference last season.

SERIES HISTORY: The Leathernecks are looking for their first program win over Indiana State. Western trails the all-time series 0-7-0 against the Sycamores. The last meeting between the two happened Oct. 4, 2015 at John MacKenzie Alumni Field, where the Leathernecks fell 2-1. Four out of the seven matchups have been decided by one goal.

RETURNERS: The Fighting Leatherencks return six starters from last season. Brianna Hughes comes back as the team's leading returning goal scorer from last season with two goals, while Michaela Cody, Kayla Kirkwood and Ashley Kuhlmann added a goal each. Western's returning starters also combined for 40 shots and 20 shots on goal last season, with 14 total points.

IN GOAL: Western's roster features three goalkeepers with Lexi Harris, Inas Palmiero and Jennifer Currie. Harris enters her junior season with seven appearances, 202:55 logged minutes in goal, eight goals allowed, 14 saves and seven shots faced. Palmiero joins the team as a freshman coming from Viladecavalls, Spain, and Currie is a junior transfer from Longriddy, Scotland, most recently playing at Hutchinson Community College.

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#WIUGAMEDAY INFORMATION

Western Illinois Leathernecks (0-0-0)
vs.
Indiana State (0-0-0)

WHEN AND WHERE:
Friday, Aug. 19, 7:00 p.m.
Terre Haute, Ind.

OPPONENT WEBSITE
G oSycamores.com

COVERAGE

VIDEO STREAM:
ESPN3

LIVE STATS:
HERE

SOCIAL MEDIA

TWITTER:
@WIUW omensSoccer
@WIUAthletics

FACEBOOK:
Western Illinois W omen's Soccer
Western Illinois Athletics

INSTAGRAM:
Western Illinois Athletics

PRESEASON INFORMATION

2016 Preseason Quick Facts (.PDF)
2016-17 Preseason Record Book (.PDF)

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#10 Michaela Cody: M; 5' 2"; Junior; Buena

#00 Lexi Harris: GK; 5' 6"; Junior; Lincoln East

#11 Brianna Hughes: F; 5' 7"; Senior; Moline

#17 Kayla Kirkwood: M; 5' 6"; Sophomore; West Chicago

#13 Ashley Kuhlmann: F; 5' 8"; Sophomore; Selah

#1 Jennifer Currie: GK; 5' 6"; Junior; Preston Lodge/Hutchinson CC

#0 Ines Palmiero Herrera: GK; 5' 7"; Freshman; Universitat de Barcelona

Players Mentioned

#10 Michaela Cody
: 5' 2"; Junior; Buena
: M

#00 Lexi Harris
: 5' 6"; Junior; Lincoln East
: GK

#11 Brianna Hughes
: 5' 7"; Senior; Moline
: F

#17 Kayla Kirkwood
: 5' 6"; Sophomore; West Chicago
: M

#13 Ashley Kuhlmann
: 5' 8"; Sophomore; Selah
: F

#1 Jennifer Currie
: 5' 6"; Junior; Preston Lodge/Hutchinson CC
: GK

#0 Ines Palmiero Herrera
: 5' 7"; Freshman; Universitat de Barcelona
: GK