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Joseph Gaither Jr.
Rachael Keating

Ready for Home Tuesday Action

| By: WIU Athletic Communications

The Leathernecks host Detroit Mercy on Tuesday (Oct. 14) at 3 p.m.

GAME THIRTEEN 

Who | Western Illinois vs. Detroit Mercy 
When | Tuesday (Oct. 14) at 3 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 takes a break in Summit League play to host Detroit Mercy on Tuesday (Oct. 15) at 3 p.m. 

Last Time Out | Entering the host of a Summit League rival, the Western Illinois men's soccer team was 0-11 for the season and 0-11 lifetime against the Denver Pioneers, but a new start for the Leathernecks changed everything in a 4-3 win on Saturday (Oct. 12) afternoon at John MacKenzie Alumni Field. 
 
His first collegiate goal was one that will go down in program history. On a corner, in the 75th minute Paul Kirdorf soared a perfect ball to the back post that connected to Kyle Owen for a header that zoomed into the back of the net for the game-winning goal.
 
The Leathernecks again answered the challenge when Enric Ferrer and Luke Duball linked up on passes that found Ryan DeBois (66') who just checked into the game. The junior bent the ball into the top left corner for his team-leading third goal of the season and to give Western a 3-2 lead. 
 
WIU erased an early goal in the 5th minute by Denver with back-to-back scores. Daisuke Otsuka (16') maneuvered his way through a scramble in the box to fire a shot for his second goal of the season. 
 
After a Pioneer foul, Kirdorf set up the first one of his two assists of the match. The Summit League Player to Watch played a curving ball around the Denver wall to find the feet of Cesar Cosio for his first goal of the season and to give WIU a 2-1 lead. 
 
With only one save in the first 45 minutes, Tim Trilk shined in crucial moments in the second half. The senior stopped four Denver opportunities to earn his tenth career win between the pipes and to total 176 career saves. 

National Attention | To say Tim Trilk is a wall between the pipes is an understatement. As of Oct. 14, he was third in all D1 and second in the Summit League with 56 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 five goals from newcomers. Daniel McIntosh, Daisuke Otsuka, and Enric Ferrer have all found the back of the net for the first time as a Leatherneck.

Eight Wonders of the Pitch | Eight different Leathernecks have found the back net with Ryan DeBois as the team leader with three, followed by Mitchell Moynihan and Daisuke Otsuka who have two. Cesar Cosio, Enric Ferrer, Paul Kirdorf, Daniel McIntosh, and Kyle Owen all have one. 

Helping Foot | Six different players have been credited in the assists of Western's 12 total goals. Luke Duball, Enric Ferrer, Paul Kirdorf, and Caleb Ragland all are deadlocked with two. 

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 Titans | Detroit Mercy is the fifth Horizon League school that Western has faced this season. The Titans travel to Western with a 4-7-1 overall record and 1-2-1 in the conference. Nine different players have netted a goal along with a backline that has combined for a total of 135 career starts across their careers. 

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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