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Paul Kirdorf and Cesar Cosio
Rachael Keating

Men’s Soccer Preps for Summit League Home Opener

| By: WIU Athletic Communications

Western host the Denver Pioneers on Saturday (Oct. 12) at 1 p.m.

GAME TWELVE 

Who | Western Illinois vs. Denver 
When | Saturday (Oct. 12) at 1 p.m. 
Where | John MacKenzie Alumni Field - Macomb, Ill. 
Watch | Here
Live Stats | Here 
Social Media | Twitter #TRADITIONofTOUGH

Kick-Off | The Western Illinois men's soccer team hosts its home Summit League opener Saturday (Oct. 12) afternoon at 1 p.m. 

Last Time Out | The Western Illinois men's soccer team (0-11-0, 0-1-0) responded and made it a one-goal game in The Summit League opener, but Omaha (2-6-2, 1-0-0) scored a late second-half goal to stop the comeback in a 3-1 loss on Saturday (Oct. 5) night. 
 
Western answered the Mavericks' second goal less than two minutes later. After a turnover at half, Luke Duball sent a long ball to Enric Ferrer, who fired a shot that was saved and rebounded out to Ryan DeBois (61') for the tap in for his second career goal. Both Ferrer and Duball earned the first career assists as Leathernecks. 
 
Omaha got the third and final goal in the 84th minute on a strike by Miguel Gomez to make it 3-1. 
 
The second half of the League opener saw the Leathernecks generate a stronger attack. The first four shots WIU had, three were on goal en route to earning four corners compared to none in the first 45 minutes. 

National Attention | To say Tim Trilk is a wall between the pipes is an understatement. As of Oct. 8, he was third in all D1 with 54 total saves. The senior became ninth all-time in saves vs. No. 19 Missouri State with career save 163. Trilk now chases Jacob Gutierrez (1999-01) for eighth all-time in saves (189). He set a career-high 13 at UIC, which tied Chris Frenz (Oct. 25, 2002 vs. IUPUI) for third in saves in a game. He is tied for eighth all-time in shutouts with seven. 

Start Wearing Purple and Gold | So far into the 2019 campaign, WIU has totaled six goals, with half of them coming from newcomers. Daniel McIntosh, Daisuke Otsuka, and Enric Ferrer have all found the back of the net for the first time as a Leatherneck. Another new face to the team is Caleb Ragland, who leads the team with two assists. 

National Team | Every soccer player across the world dreams of representing their home country at the international level. And for current Western Illinois men's soccer student-athlete Gimale Essacu, he will get that honor again. 

Essacu was selected to the Papua New Guinea U-23 squad by head coach Percy Mataio earlier this September. A member of the 20-man squad, he will compete in the OFC Men's Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Fiji for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics from Sept. 21-Oct. 5. The Leatherneck also suited up for his home country in an Olympic Qualifier in 2015 that advanced to the semifinals. 

All Eyes On 5 | Heading into his junior season Paul Kirdorf was tabbed a Player to Watch for the 2019 season. The midfielder is one of five key returners for the Leathernecks this season as he finished with a team-high in points (7) and assists (3) while starting all 14 matches. He also helped the Leatherneck defense record four shutouts during the 2018 campaign en route to being the team leader in shots on goal (10). 

Scouting the Pioneers | Denver travels to WIU with a 2-6-2, 0-0-1 record, and were tabbed as the league favorite by the coaches for the seventh consecutive season. The Pioneers, winners of at least a share of the last six regular-season crowns, recently tied Eastern Illinois 0-0 in the league opener. Jacob Stensson and Preston Judd were both tabbed Preseason Players to Watch. 

Up Next | The Purple and Gold take a break from Summit League action for a host of Detroit on Tuesday (Oct. 15) at 3 p.m.



 
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