Skip To Main Content

Upcoming Events and Recent Results

Western Illinois University Athletics

Jacob Bevan
1
Kansas City UMKC (1-4-0)
4
Winner Western Illinois WIUM (3-3-1)
Kansas City UMKC
(1-4-0)
1
Final
4
Western Illinois WIUM
(3-3-1)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Kansas City UMKC 1 0 1
Western Illinois WIUM 2 2 4

Game Recap: Men's Soccer | | WIU Athletic Communications

Leathernecks Extend Win Streak Behind Bevan's Hat Trick

WIU has now won three straight matches following Saturday's 4-1 win over UMKC.

PHOTO GALLERY

MACOMB, Ill. – It was a career day Saturday (Sept. 17) for the Western Illinois men's soccer program, as they defeated Kansas City, 4-1, at home behind Jacob Bevan's three goals. 

"I thought our work rate was good and our off-the-ball running was as good as it's ever been," said Director of Soccer Dr. Eric Johnson. "I'm very happy with the way we played and it showed in the result. Our timing was better and we talked about limiting their duo of forwards up top. [Jacob] Bevan really turned it up with his running after the ball." 

UMKC got on the board early in the match after a goal in the third minute to go up 1-0. It wouldn't be until the 33rd minute until Bevan scored an equalizer for his first of three goals. Fernando Pacheco was able to connect with Bevan, who rocketed a shot from just outside the box on the right side of the field past the keeper, in the left upper 90.  

Just a few minutes later, Fernando Pacheco put the Leathernecks up 2-1 ('39), courtesy of a beautiful lobbed pass from midfield Daniel Collins who connected with Pacheco in mid-stride. With nobody in front of him except the keeper, Pacheco was able to win the one-on-one opportunity and touch the ball past the keeper to close out the half.

Following halftime, Western did not let up and continued its offensive attack with Bevan recording his second goal of the match in the 52nd minute. On an assist from Alejandro Pacheco, Bevan maneuvered his way inside the box and around the Kangaroo defenders to score on the keeper from five yards out, which gave WIU a 3-1 cushion.

Bevan's final goal came off an assist from Fernando Pacheco and Collins, where they were able to find the senior on the right side of the box for a one-on-one opportunity with the goalkeeper. From there, Bevan closed out his career performance by netting the ball in the left-hand side of the net for his third and the final goal of the match.

"I think both of our wings did a phenomenal job and Bevan was rewarded for his running today. He was composed in the box and it's great not only for his confidence, but for everybody's confidence as well. It was really important for us to keep feeding it into the wings. That first goal was special because he cut inside to his left foot and bent the ball right around. That's exactly how you make that type of play. I thought that goal was very critical for us to boost our morale."

With that hat trick, Bevan becomes the 13th Leatherneck in program history to record a hat trick, joining teammate Drew Whalen, who recorded one on Oct. 17, 2015 against Eastern Illinois. His previous high was two goals in a single match (Sept. 21, 2015). He is also the first Summit League player to record a hat trick since Oct. 31, 2015 (Oral Robert's Edgardo Mira). 

Defensively, goalkeeper Tim Hansen recorded a career-high eight saves in the match. The former Summit League Defensive Player of the Week topped his previous personal best of six saves in a match (Sept. 10, 2016 against Bowling Green).

"Anything up in the air, he's [Hansen] able to go get it and our guys love it, because he's going to go get it," said Johnson. "It's too bad they got that first goal because he made a great save by punching that corner kick out. He also made a fantastic save on a bouncing ball that took a wicked hop to his left, and he was able to make that wide reflex save. Today helped his confidence improved and he distributed the ball really well."

Western Illinois betters its win streak to three, as well as its undefeated home win streak (3-0) heading into their next match Tuesday, Sept. 20 against Bradley on the road. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. on ESPN3. The Leathernecks will then open Summit League play at IUPUI on Sept. 23 on the road at 7 p.m.

"We've got to take what we've done here on the road," said Johnson. "We're at Bradley and IUPUI. Facing Bradley is always a great, fun and intense match, and then we've got to continue our play in Indianapolis." 
 
Print Friendly Version