Women's Soccer Opens The Season Against NIU, Travels To North Dakota

The Leathernecks officially begin the regular season Friday (Aug. 10).

MACOMB, Ill. — Western Illinois opens the regular season with a pair of matches, playing host to Northern Illinois Friday (Nov. 18), followed by a road matchup Sunday (Aug. 20) at North Dakota.

LAST TIME OUT:
The Fighting Leatherneck women's soccer team fell 4-2 to the visiting Austin Peay Governors on Friday (Aug. 11) at John MacKenzie Alumni Field. After holding on to a 1-0 lead at halftime, Lauryn Peters got things started in the second half with a quick 47th minute goal with a straight on shot from 19 yards out.

Austin Peay was quick to answer with a goal less than a minute later, followed by another shot from the middle of the field 22 yards out to even the score at 2-2. The Governors eventually took the lead in the 68th minute after a breakaway goal.

The Leathernecks tried to erase the deficit, but another Austin Peay goal in the 83rd minute sealed the game. Bollman led the way with two shots on goal and a goal, while Lauryn Peters followed with a goal off her one shot. Cristina From, Bridget Schuler and Alexandra Siavelis all finished with a shot on goal.

SCOUTING THE HUSKIES:
Northern Illinois is coming off a 1-1 tie against Drake in its final exhibition match. The team finished 5-11-5 last season, which included a 1-0 win over the Leathernecks in the previous meeting last season. The lone goal in the match happened in the second minute when NIU's Taylor Sarver scored from a six-yard shot. Western had multiple close chances with Ashley Kuhlmann and Alexandra Siavelis both recording a shot on goal.

In total, Western recorded three shots in the match from Kuhlmann, Siavelis and Stacie Wolfgram. Defensively, both teams recorded an equal number of saves (3), while the Huskies finished with an 8-2 advantage in total corner kicks, as well as a 6-3 advantage in shots. The all-time series is tied 2-2-3.

SCOUTING THE HAWKS:
Last season, the Hawks finished 2-14-2 overall. The last time out, both teams played to a 0-0 tie at the Brophy Fields in Macomb. The Leathernecks recorded a season-high 13 shots in the first half alone, compared to the Fighting Hawks' five. In the 23rd minute, Western's Madeline Edwards received a corner kick from Emily Bollman, but her shot went wide left.

That sparked three more shot attempts for the Leathernecks within a three-minute span, but the ball could not find the back of the net. In the second half, Ines Palmiero Herrera made a crucial save in the 63rd minute, stopping a header from North Dakota's Katie Moller. Later on in the 75th minute, Edwards saw a scoring opportunity, rocketing a line-drive shot that was saved by the North Dakota keeper just before going in the net.

The final close play for the Leathernecks happened in the final minute of regulation, when Stacie Wolfgram beat the opposing defender and had a break-away that was saved by the opposing keeper in the final seconds. The final two overtime periods saw no scoring, but both teams saw close opportunities late in the match. Alexandra Siavelis connected with a shot that went high in the 100th minute, while North Dakota had a corner kick opportunity in the 107th minute.

Palmiero Herrera recorded a career-high five saves in the match, playing the full 110 minutes in net through regulation and two overtimes.

LOOKING AHEAD:
Following the home match against Northern Illinois on Aug. 18, Western's next six are on the road, beginning with North Dakota. The first home match is set for Sept. 17 versus Chicago State.

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#WIUGAMEDAY INFORMATION

Western Illinois (0-0-0)
vs.
Northern Illinois (0-0-0)

WHEN AND WHERE:
Friday, Aug. 18, 2017
5 p.m.
John MacKenzie Alumni Field

OPPONENT WEBSITE
niuhuskies.com

Western Illinois (0-0-0)
vs.
North Dakota (0-0-0)

WHEN AND WHERE:
Sunday, Aug. 20, 2017
12 p.m.
John MacKenzie Alumni Field

OPPONENT WEBSITE
undsports.com

COVERAGE

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

2017 Preseason Quick Facts (.PDF)
2017-18 Preseason Record Book (.PDF

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#6 Madeline Edwards: F; 5' 6"; Sophomore; Marian

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

#29 Alexandra Siavelis: M; 5' 8"; Sophomore; Crystal Lake South

#23 Stacie Wolfgram: F/M; 5' 5"; Freshman; Crystal Lake Central

#8 Emily Bollman: F; 5' 5"; Freshman; Alleman Valley

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

#7 Cristina From: M; 5' 6"; Junior; Catholic Memorial

#29 Alexandra Siavelis: M; 5' 8"; Senior; Crystal Lake South

#5 Lauryn Peters: F; 5' 5"; Freshman; West Valley

#11 Bridget Schuler: M/F; 5' 6"; Freshman; Peoria Notre Dame

Players Mentioned

#6 Madeline Edwards
: 5' 6"; Sophomore; Marian
: F

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

#29 Alexandra Siavelis
: 5' 8"; Sophomore; Crystal Lake South
: M

#23 Stacie Wolfgram
: 5' 5"; Freshman; Crystal Lake Central
: F/M

#8 Emily Bollman
: 5' 5"; Freshman; Alleman Valley
: F

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

#7 Cristina From
: 5' 6"; Junior; Catholic Memorial
: M

#29 Alexandra Siavelis
: 5' 8"; Senior; Crystal Lake South
: M

#5 Lauryn Peters
: 5' 5"; Freshman; West Valley
: F

#11 Bridget Schuler
: 5' 6"; Freshman; Peoria Notre Dame
: M/F