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Rachael Keating

WIU and ORU Clash for the No. 1 Seed

| By: WIU Athletic Communications

The Leathernecks take on the Golden Eagles for a share of the regular season championship and the No. 1 seed in postseason play

GAME Eighteen 

Who | Western Illinois at No. 20/24 Oral Roberts 
When | Saturday (Nov. 9) at 7 p.m.
Where | Case Soccer Complex - Tulsa, Okla.
Watch | Here
Live Stats | Here
Social Media | Twitter #TRADITIONofTOUGH

Kick-Off | A season that started an 11 game skid for the Western Illinois men's soccer team now ends with the battle for the No. 1 seed in The Summit League Championships presented by U.S. Air Force Special Warfare.  

What's on the Line | If the Leathernecks defeat the Golden Eagles, WIU will get a share of The Summit League regular season champions and earn the No. 1 seed in League in postseason play. The win also results in Western Illions playing host to the 2020 Summit League Championships.  

Postseason Secured | With the victory over Eastern Illinois, the Leathernecks clinched a spot into postseason play for the 18th time in program history after Western missed out on the tournament last year for the first time since 2010

Last Time Out | WIU concluded Non-League play with a draw on the road at IUPUI (Oct. 30) and a loss to Bradley (Nov. 4) at home. 
 
National Attention | To say Tim Trilk is a wall between the pipes is an understatement. Throughout the whole season, the senior has been in the top 10 of NCAA D1 saves, including being tied for first on Sept. 9. 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 owns the program marks for fourth in minutes in goal (4549:48), eighth in career saves (193), tied sixth in shutouts (8), and ninth in wins (13).

Start Wearing Purple and Gold | So far into the 2019 campaign, WIU has totaled eight goals from newcomers. Daniel McIntosh (1), Daisuke Otsuka (3), Kyle Owen (2), and Enric Ferrer (2) have all found the back of the net for the first time as a Leatherneck.

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

Helping Foot | Nine different players have been credited in the assists of Western's 21 total goals. Caleb Ragland leads the pack with three. Luke Duball, Gimale Essacu, Enric Ferrer, and Paul Kirdorf 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 once 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 team, 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 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. 

Leatherneck Sweep | Back-to-back shutout victories fueled both from Ryan DeBois (Offensive), and Tim Trilk (Defensive) earned the Western Illinois men's soccer team to sweep The Summit League Player of the Week Awards, the league announced Monday (Oct. 21).

The last time the Leathernecks swept the honors was in 2016 by Tim Hansen and Armel Kouassi. 

Scouting the Golden Eagles | Oral Roberts moved up to No. 20 in the nation in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 poll on Tuesday (Nov. 5) and also claimed the 24 spot int he College Soccer News Top 30 Poll. The Golden Eagles have set a new program record for most wins (14) in a season. Senior Tanguy Guerineau currently leads the nation in assists (12) and assists per game (0.80). 

Up Next | The Purple and Gold await their fate and either play Thursday (Nov. 14) at 2 p.m. as the No. 1 seed or 4 p.m. if they lose to Oral Roberts. 
 
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