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Western Illinois University Athletics

MSOC Team
Sarah Twidwell
2
Winner Western Ill. WIU (5-12-1, 4-1-0)
1
Oral Roberts ORU (13-3-0, 4-1-0)
Winner
Western Ill. WIU
(5-12-1, 4-1-0)
2
Final
1
Oral Roberts ORU
(13-3-0, 4-1-0)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Western Ill. WIU 0 2 2
Oral Roberts ORU 0 1 1

Game Recap: Men's Soccer | | WIU Athletic Communications

Tradition of Tough

The Leathernecks defeated No. 20/24 Oral Roberts to earn a share of the regular-season title and the No. 1 seed.

TULSA, Okla. - Tradition of tough best describes the Western Illinois men's soccer team. After an 0-11 start, they never gave up or quit, but began a journey to earn a share of The Summit League regular-season championship and the No. 1 seed in the League championships. 

Western Illinois earned the dramatic 2-1 victory over the No. 20/24 Golden Eagles on Saturday (Nov. 9) night for the program's fifth regular-season title, and the third time the Leathernecks have earned a share of it. WIU defeated a ranked opponent for the first time since 2008 versus #17 Bradley. 

"Wild finish," Director of Soccer Dr. Eric Johnson said. "Our guys were resilient and absorbed a lot of pressure from a very good Oral Roberts side. Two great goals to win it, and the guys are excited about the championship next week and hope to continue our good form."

The battle for the No. 1 seed in postseason play remained scoreless until the 83rd minute. On a corner, Paul Kirdorf soared the ball to Kyle Owen, who headed it down, finding the feet of a diving Daisuke Otsuka for the 1-0 lead. 

Holding on to the advantage, Ryan DeBois found the back of the net for the eighth time this season. Goalkeeper Tim Trilk earned his first career assist as he launched the ball that was flicked on by Gimale Essacu to DeBois, who buried his shot into the far corner. 

Oral Roberts added to the wild finish on a goal in the 90th minute.

The Purple and Gold aim to earn the sixth tournament championship in program history and an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. 

Western Illinois will now head to The Summit League Championships presented by U.S. Air Force Special Warfare as the No. 1 seed and take on the No. 4 Omaha Mavericks Thursday (Nov. 14) at 2 p.m. 


 
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