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Larry Dean

Men's Soccer Resumes Non-League Play at Detroit Mercy

| By: WIU Athletic Communications

The Leathernecks are in the middle of a three-game road stretch.

MACOMB, Ill. — Western Illinois men's soccer continues its road slate against Detroit Mercy for a mid-day match at 12 p.m. (CT) on Tuesday, Oct. 23.

LAST TIME OUT: 
The Western Illinois men's soccer team (2-9-3, 0-3-1) was limited to five shots in a 4-0 loss to seventh-ranked Denver (11-2-2, 3-0-1) on Saturday, Oct. 20.
 
Denver scored first in the 12th minute when Destan Norman placed the ball in the middle of the field to Moshe Perez for a goal from the 20 yards out. The Pioneers doubled their lead to 2-0 in the 42nd minute on a pass to the left side of the box to Andre Shinyashiki for his nation's best 22nd goal of the season.
 
The Leathernecks trailed 2-0 at halftime and Denver tacked on again in the 56th minute on a thru ball to Stefan DeLeone as he sent it into the back of the net. Three minutes later, Callum Stretch passed the ball to Kenny Akamatsu from 25 yards out to move the margin to 4-0.  
 
SCOUTING THE TITANS: 
Detroit Mercy is currently 1-12-2 overall and 0-5-1 in the Horizon League. The Titans are coming off a 2-0 non-league loss at Big Ten power Penn State on Wednesday, Oct. 17. Their lone win came at Robert Morris by a 1-0 decision on Aug. 31. Western Illinois lost the last meeting between the two teams on Sept. 11, 2015, at the Radisson Invitational in Kalamazoo, Mich. with a 2-1 result as Drew Whalen scored the lone Leatherneck goal in that match.
 
Detroit Mercy alum Nicholas Deren is 57-87-29 in his ninth season at the helm. Freshman midfielder Ben Al-Gharabally has contributed lately off the bench with two goals. Nine other players have each scored one goal for the Titans this season.
 
COACH JOHNSON'S THOUGHTS: 
"This will be a difficult game," Director of Soccer Dr. Eric Johnson said. "They are a good team at home and we are coming off a tough road trip to Denver. Our guys will have to step it up and really compete as well as be sharp on the ball to get a result."
 
LOOKING AHEAD: 
The Leathernecks conclude the road swing at in-state rival Bradley on Saturday, Oct. 27 for a non-league matchup at 2 p.m.
 
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