No. 2 Leathernecks To Face No. 3 Omaha In Tournament Semifinal

Western Illinois takes on Omaha at The Summit League Championships.

MATCH SIXTEEN
SUMMIT LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIPS: SEMIFINAL ROUND
MEN'S SOCCER: NO. 2 WESTERN ILLINOIS LEATHERNECKS AT NO. 3 OMAHA MAVERICKS
Nov. 9, 2017 • 5:00 p.m. (CT) • Omaha, Neb.. • Caniglia Field

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MACOMB, Ill. — Director of Soccer Dr. Eric Johnson and his No. 2 seeded Western Illinois men's soccer program (5-9-1, 3-2-0) take the pitch this Thursday (Nov. 9) at 5 p.m. for a Summit League Tournament Semifinal matchup against the No. 3 seed and host Omaha Mavericks (9-5-2, 2-1-2).

JOURNEY TO THE SUMMIT:
Western Illinois concluded the season with a 3-2-0 Summit League record, the second-best behind Denver (5-0-0). The Leathernecks most recently fell to Denver (1-0) on Saturday (Nov. 4) in The Summit League Regular Season Championship match for the No. 1 seed. With wins over Fort Wayne (3-1), Eastern Illinois (2-0) and Oral Roberts (1-0) the Leathernecks racked up a total of 9 points for Summit League Standings.

TOURNAMENT HISTORY:
Director of Soccer Dr. Eric Johnson is in his 21st season with the Leathernecks, and is the winningest all-time coach in the history of The Summit League. During his tenure, he has taken his last seven teams to league tournament berth. A win would give him his ninth-career tournament championship appearance and is looking for his seventh league tournament title. With the Leathernecks, he is currently at 170 wins and 213 for his career.

This match will mark the first time in program history the Leathernecks have played a tournament match at Omaha. This will be the fourth time in program history that Western Illinois has been ranked the No. 2 seed, and the first time since 2009, where the Purple and Gold captured the tournament title with a 2-0 win over Kansas City in Rochester, Mich.

A LOOK AT YOUR LEATHERNECKS:
Western Illinois' Drew Whalen ranks third in the league with eight goals this season, followed by Fernando Pacheco who is tied for fourth with seven. Whalen also ranks third with 16 points and second with 53 shots thus far.

In net, Tim Trilk has only conceded 11 goals this season, the fewest in The Summit League. He is second in the league for save percentage at .810 and fourth with a 1.14 goals against average. Whalen and Pacheco have both garnered Summit League 'Offensive Player of the Week' honors, while Trilk netted a pair of 'Defensive Player of the Week' honors this season.

PREVIOUS MEETING AGAINST OMAHA:
Western Illinois trails the all-time series 2-3-1 following the 2-0 loss earlier this season (Oct. 21) at Caniglia Field in Omaha, Neb. The loss marked the first of two Summit League losses of the season for Western. The Leathernecks and Mavericks were able to get through the first 15 minutes of play before lighting delayed the match. Following the delay, both teams took the field once again and were scoreless through the first 30 minutes of the match.

Western fell into a 1-0 hole at the 31-minute mark off a goal by Omaha's Diego Gutierrez as a result from a rebound shot off the crossbar and finished high into the net.

Shortly after, the second Maverick goal came off a shot from inside the box as a result of a through ball from Xavier Gomez to Diego Gutierrez, who crossed it to teammate Emmanuel Hamzat for the score.

The Leathernecks—in a 2-0 deficit at the half— came out in the second half and were able to gain some scoring opportunities off a header from Drew Whalen that went high (60'). As the match was winding down, Luke Duball and Whalen were both able to get some shots off, but both were high and wide of the net.

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Players Mentioned

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

#33 Tim Trilk: GK; 6' 2"; Sophomore; Boylan Catholic

#7 Drew Whalen: F/M; 6' 1"; Junior; Peoria Notre Dame

#15 Luke Duball: M; 5' 10"; Freshman; Xavier H.S.

Players Mentioned

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

#33 Tim Trilk
: 6' 2"; Sophomore; Boylan Catholic
: GK

#7 Drew Whalen
: 6' 1"; Junior; Peoria Notre Dame
: F/M

#15 Luke Duball
: 5' 10"; Freshman; Xavier H.S.
: M