Men's Soccer Opens The Season At Milwaukee, Green Bay

The Leathernecks open the season with a pair of road matches.

MACOMB, Ill. — The Fighting Leatherneck men's soccer program opens the 2017 season with a pair of road matches at Milwaukee (Aug. 25) and Green Bay (Aug. 27). The Leathernecks open their first six matches on the road, as the first home match will not be until Sept. 20.

SEASON PREPARATIONS:
The 2017 season marks the 50th year for the Western Illinois men's soccer program and Director of Soccer Dr. Eric Johnson's 21st at the helm of the program. The team played three exhibition matches against UIC (Aug. 15, L 1-0), at DePaul (Aug. 19, L 3-1) and Quincy (Aug. 21, T 0-0).

The Leathernecks return a pair of All-League Second Teamers in Ben Fiddes and Fernando Pacheco (also named to the 2017 Summit League 'Players to Watch' list), along with former 2015 Summit League 'Offensive Player of the Year' Drew Whalen, who missed the 2016 season due to injury.

The team returns nine players who started at least 17 or more matches last season along with 18 total returners.

Among those are Armel Kouassi, a former Summit League 'Offensive Player of the Week' last season, and keeper Tim Hansen, who earned 'Defensive Player of the Week' honors twice. The Leathernecks were picked to finish third in the Preseason Summit League poll.

SCOUTING MILWAUKEE:
Milwaukee and Western Illinois will meet for the 13th time in series history, with the Panthers owning a 7-4-1 series advantage. The last time out, the Leathernecks the Fighting Leatherneck men's soccer team saw its undefeated home streak snapped after a 2-0 loss on Oct. 4, 2016.

Western Illinois fell behind after a pair of early Panther goals within two minutes apart. In the 29th minute, a Panther free kick from the center put the Leathernecks in an early 1-0 deficit. Milwaukee's Francesco Saporito kicked the ball from 25 yards out, hitting the top post and then the ground, bouncing into the goal. The second score came two minutes later, when the Panthers' Nick Moon scored from 15 yards out in the center of the field off an assist from Peter Raymonds.

The team was led in 2016 by Evan Conway and Saporito, who both led the team with 15 total points each last season. Friday, Aug. 24 also marks the season opener for the Panthers as well.

SCOUTING GREEN BAY:
The Phoenix officially open the 2017 season Aug. 25 against Summit League member Eastern Illinois. That match will take place prior to the Aug. 27 showdown with the Leathernecks. Last season, Western Illinois emerged victorious at home with a 1-0 victory (Sept. 28, 2016). Jacob Bevan scored the lone goal off an assist from Ayo Makinde in the 31st minute at John MacKenzie Alumni Field.

The team was led by Tomer Zloczower's five points last season, who returns for his sophomore year in 2017. Western is currently 12-16-3 all-time against Green Bay.

LOOKING FORWARD:
Western Illinois continues its road slate at Dayton (Sept. 1), at Mount Mercy (Sept. 3), at Bowling Green (Sept. 9) and at Kansas City (Sept. 16) before returning for the first home match on Sept. 20 against Drake.

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#WIUGAMEDAY INFORMATION

Western Illinois
at
Milwaukee

WHEN AND WHERE:
Friday, Aug. 25, 7 p.m. (CT)
Milwaukee, Wis.

OPPONENT WEBSITE
mkepanthers.com

Western Illinois
at
Green Bay

WHEN AND WHERE:
Sunday, Aug. 27, 1 p.m. (CT)
Green Bay, Wis.

OPPONENT WEBSITE
greenbayphoenix.com

COVERAGE

LIVE STATS:
VS MILWAUKEE
VS GREEN BAY

ESPN3 (vs. Milwaukee)

SOCIAL MEDIA

TWITTER:
@WIU M ensSoccer
@WIUAthletics

FACEBOOK:
Western Illinois Athletics

INSTAGRAM:
Western Illinois Athletics

PRESEASON INFORMATION

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

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Players Mentioned

#14 Jacob Bevan: F; 6' 2"; Senior; Oak Park River Forest

#11 Ben Fiddes: M; 6' 0"; Senior; Peoria Notre Dame

#34 Tim Hansen: GK; 6' 5"; Sophomore; Rheingauschule

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

#12 Ayo Makinde: D; 6' 0"; Senior; Hampshire/Oakton CC

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

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

Players Mentioned

#14 Jacob Bevan
: 6' 2"; Senior; Oak Park River Forest
: F

#11 Ben Fiddes
: 6' 0"; Senior; Peoria Notre Dame
: M

#34 Tim Hansen
: 6' 5"; Sophomore; Rheingauschule
: GK

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

#12 Ayo Makinde
: 6' 0"; Senior; Hampshire/Oakton CC
: D

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

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