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Men's Soccer Prepares for Road Contest at Drake

| By: WIU Athletic Communications

The Leathernecks travel to Iowa on Wednesday, Sept. 26 for a match under the lights.

MACOMB, Ill. — Western Illinois men's soccer takes on Drake in a road matchup on Wednesday, Sept. 26 at 7 p.m.

LAST TIME OUT: 
After two separate weather delays, the Western Illinois men's soccer team (2-4-2) gutted out a 1-0 victory against IUPUI on Tuesday, Sept. 18. The match was called in the 84th minute due to darkness at John MacKenzie Alumni Field.  

Right after the match started in the first minute, there was a delay for lightning in the area. Play resumed an hour later until the 19th minute when another lightning delay ensued. This time, the delay lasted about 30 minutes before play resumed again.
 
Western Illinois grabbed a 1-0 lead in the 30th minute. Orsy Gonzalez dribbled the ball to the right side outside the box and unloaded a shot that landed into the bottom right corner of the net for the lone goal of the game.
 
The match almost became tied in the 73rd minute as Tim Trilk slipped, but he was still able to come out and make his third save on a shot from Riley Shives.  
 
Paul Kirdorf led a late surge as the Leathernecks searched for insurance as his shot was hauled in during the 80th minute. Ben Marett missed wide in the 83rd minute just before the match was called by the officials due to darkness.  
 
SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS: 
Drake is currently 4-3-1 overall after a 1-1 draw with Loyola in Missouri Valley play on the road. The Bulldogs edged Western Illinois 2-1 in Macomb on Sept. 20, 2017 with two late goals after Drew Whalen scored the lone Leatherneck goal.

Gareth Smith is in his fourth season as the Bulldogs head coach after serving as an assistant at Drake during the previous five years. Sophomore forward Leroy Enzugusi paces the team with three goals. Cole Poppen, a junior midfielder transferred from Tulsa and has a team-high five assists to go along with a pair of goals.
 
COACH JOHNSON'S THOUGHTS: 
"Tough road trip Wednesday at Drake but a good way to prepare for Saturday's league opener with Oral Roberts," Director of Soccer Dr. Eric Johnson said. "We will need to be sharp from the first minute against a team that has had success in recent games and has put some goals on the scoreboard. Our Iowa guys really enjoy this game and we are hoping for a nice crowd."
 
LOOKING AHEAD: 
The Leathernecks return to Macomb for the Summit League opener against Oral Roberts on Saturday, Sept. 29 at 12 p.m.
 
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