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Cassidy Grunewald
Rachael Keating

Momentum Into Summit League Battles

| By: WIU Athletic Communications

WIU travels to Denver on Thursday and returns home to battle North Dakota

GAME Thirteen and Fourteen 

Who | Western Illinois at Denver and vs. North Dakota 
When | Thursday (Oct. 10) at 7 p.m. and Sunday (Oct. 13) at Noon 
Where | Denver Soccer Stadium - Denver and John MacKenzie Alumni Field - Macomb, Ill. 
Live Stats | at Denver and vs. North Dakota 
Social Media | Twitter #TRADITIONofTOUGH

Kick-off | The Western Illinois women's soccer team (6-5-1) battles deeper into Summit League play with a trip to Denver on Thursday (Oct. 10) and then back at home against North Dakota on Sunday (Oct. 13).

Last Time Out | The Leathernecks opened up league play with back-to-back shutouts of Omaha and Purdue Fort Wayne to continue a four-game win streak and 2-0 mark in league play. 

Against Omaha, the only goal needed for Western Illinois came late in the first half. After Jenna Lundgren made a move in the box, she was taken down for a penalty kick. The junior responded and converted successfully, placing the ball in the bottom left corner of the net as the Omaha goalkeeper dove to the right for her second goal of the season in the 38th minute.  

To close out versus PFW, WIU found the back of midway through the second half. After a Mastodon foul, Zoe Clarke lined up for the free-kick just outside the top of the box and soared it into the right corner of the net to give the Leathernecks a 1-0 lead in the 55th minute. 

Less than five minutes later, Lauryn Peters (59') earned her first goal of the season in style. On a corner, Clarke guided the ball to the Summit League Player to Watch who sprinted to the middle of the box for a header that sailed to the back of the net. 
 
In The League | So far in 2019 campaign, a trio of Leathernecks see their names in the Summit League ranks. On the offensive side of the ball, Cassidy Grunewald is tied for second with three assists, and Amy Andrews is tied for third with five goals. Rounding out the squad, Ines Palmiero Herrera is third with 57 saves. 

Shots, shots, Everybody | Fourteen different players have fired a shot while wearing the Purple and Gold this season compared to only four who haven't. Zoe Clarke (28), Amy Andrews (27), Jenna Lundgren (18) and Emily Bollman (14) set the pace for WIU. 

Why Not Us? | Before the 2019 season took off, the Western Illinois women's soccer team was selected to finish ninth in the Summit League coaches' preseason poll; however, the Purple and Gold had other ideas in mind. The Leathernecks are the only undefeated team and one of two that have scored three goals and allowed zero. They are also tied for second with total wins (6). 

Reunited | Current graduate assistant coach, Nykosi Simmons, reunites with her former teammate and assistant coach Josee Primeau. The duo made a significant impact on the program at Mississippi Valley State. The four-year starters were selected to the SWAC Top 20 Players list, along with with earning Most Valuable Player and the MVSU Female Athlete of the Year award. 

Leatherneck Sweep | Four straight wins, three consecutive shutouts, 2-0 in Summit League play and now a clean sweep of the Summit League Player of the Week Awards by Zoe Clarke (Offensive) and Ines Palmiero Herrera (Defensive), what else can be said about the Western Illinois women's soccer team? The league announced the weekly accolades on Monday (Oct. 7). 

The league honors are the first time in program history that Western has won both offensive and defensive in the same week. 

Northwest Field Magic | Rain has forced action to be moved to the Northwest Field, but that hasn't altered the performance for WIU. The squad has now won four straight matches in a row with an undefeated mark (3-0) at the Northwest Field, and in Summit League play (2-0). The last time the Leathernecks won four straight games in 2009. 

Between the Pipes | Goalkeeper Ines Palmiero Herrera has continued to climb the ranks in the record book. On Sept. 23, she became fourth all-time in career saves against UNI and chases Victoria Kappel (274) for third all-time. She hasn't allowed a ball by her in three straight matches and in any league action for her seventh career shutout. The fourth shutout of the season moves her to third all-time in a season tying Meghan Tyk (2007). She stopped all five shots Purdue Fort Wayne had as she now is only one more win away from passing Samantha Clark (2006) for fifth all-time

Scouting the Pioneers | Denver enters their second Summit League match with a 4-4-3, 0-0-1 record. They began League play with a 1-1 tie at Oral Roberts. The Pioneers were selected to finish first in the League's preseason coaches' poll. 2018 Coach of the Year Jeff Hooker has plenty of key players back for a title defense, including 2018 Freshman of the Year Samantha Feller, who is one of four All-Summit League first-teamers returning to his lineup.

Scouting the Fighting Hawks | North Dakota will make its way to Macomb after a match at Purdue Fort Wayne. The Hawks are 7-4-1, 1-1-0 so far with notable wins against Hawaii, St. Mary's, and Grand Canyon. The Fighting Hawks were picked sixth in the preseason poll and will try to replace the production of Offensive Player of the Year Katie Moller, who led the Summit League in goals in 2018 with 15.

Up Next | The stretch of Summit League play continues with a trip to the Dakotas for action against South Dakota State on Friday (Oct. 18) and Sunday (Oct. 20). 
 
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