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Arian Mehrang
Rachael Keating

Saturday Night Lights

| By: WIU Athletic Communications

Western travels to Purdue Fort Wayne on Saturday (Oct. 19) to resume Summit League play

GAME Fourteen  

Who | Western Illinois vs. Purdue Fort Wayne 
When | Saturday (Oct. 19) at 6 p.m. 
Where | Hefner Soccer Complex - Fort Wayne, Ind. 
Watch | Here
Live Stats | Here
Social Media | Twitter #TRADITIONofTOUGH

Kick-Off | The Western Illinois men's soccer jumps back into Summit League play under the lights against Purdue Fort Wayne on Saturday (Oct. 19). 

Last Time Out | Down a man due to a red card, the Western Illinois men's soccer team (2-11-0, 1-1-0) overcame the challenge and shutout Detroit Mercy 2-0 on a Tuesday (Oct. 15) tilt at John MacKenzie Alumni Field. 
 
The shutout marks the first one of the 2019 campaign as the Leathernecks earn back-to-back wins. 
 
Heading into his junior year, Ryan DeBois did not record a goal for the Western. Flashforward to 2019, he is the team leader. The forward scored his fourth goal of the season after he secured his rebound to place into the bottom left corner for a 1-0 lead.
 
The WIU backline in the first half held Detroit Mercy to no shots on goal. The Titans strung together three on frame in the second half, but Tim Trilk stopped each look for his eighth career shutout to tie Dave Hanlon (2003-05) for eighth all-time in program history.  
 
With time ticking down, Luke Duball notched his first career goal in the 89th minute. Daniel McIntosh found Duball, who had a breakaway and fired the ball into the bottom left corner for the 2-0 advantage

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 seventh all-time in shutouts with eight. 

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.

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

Helping Foot | Seven different players have been credited in the assists of Western's 14 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 historic 4-3 win for the Western Illinois men's soccer team over Denver was lead by Paul Kirdorf, who tallied two assists to be named Summit League Offensive Player of the Week, the league announced Monday (Oct. 14). 

The honor marks the first time Kirdorf has earned the weekly recognition as Western Illinois defeated the Pioneers for the first time in program history. 

Scouting the Mastodons | Purdue Fort Wayne sits at 3-10 with an 0-2 mark in League play. The 'Dons are currently on a seven-game losing streak after falling 0-1 to Omaha on Saturday (Oct. 12). Goalkeeper Tor Erik Larsen sits a third in D1 with 66 saves on the season. 

Up Next | WIU returns home for Senior Day and the host of Eastern Illinois on Saturday (Oct. 26) at 1 p.m. 

 
 
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