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Winner Denver DEN (5-2-1, 1-0-0)
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Denver DEN
(5-2-1, 1-0-0)
2
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Western Ill. WIU
(0-7-0, 0-1-0)
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Game Recap: Men's Soccer | | WIU Athletic Communications

Mehrang Scores in Summit League Opener

Daisuke Otsuka got his first assist of the season, WIU falls 2-1.

MACOMB, ILL. – The Western Illinois University Fighting Leatherneck men's soccer team was in action on Saturday (Sept. 25), falling 2-1 to the Denver Pioneers at John MacKenzie Alumni Field. It was the team's first Summit League match of the season.
 
Starting a lineup that featured regulars such as Kyle Owen, Daisuke Otsuka and Jaylen Drummond, it was Denver who got the game's first goal. On a counter attack in the 23rd minute, Jake Mecham got on the end of a cross and gave the Pioneers a 1-0 lead.
 
In the 30th minute, goalkeeper Alex Flowers was subbed on after a red card and made a play that changed the course of the game. After checking in with the fourth official he went straight to the goal line to face a penalty kick, which he saved with a sprawling effort to his left, keeping the difference at one.
 
"Coach told me (the player who shot it) often opens up his hips and shoots to his right," Flowers said of the save. "I just had to get ready, get locked in, and play."
 
Denver would earn another penalty kick in the 33rd minute that was finished, and the lead grew to 2-0. Neither team would score the rest of the half and it remained 2-0 when the horn sounded.
 
In the second half Western continued to press for a goal, and their efforts were rewarded in the 75th minute. After his initial shot was blocked, Daisuke Otsuka played a ball to Arian Mehrang who's curler to the far post made it past the Denver 'keeper. It was Mehrang's first of the season.
 
"He's played wide before but today he played much more centrally. Leading up to this he's been injured a bit but he took the chance and played well," coach Ludvig Rhodin said after the game. "I'm happy for him."
 
Though Western found some momentum with the goal, they were unable to add a second and the game finished 2-1 in favor of Denver. Western finished with seven shots (two on goal) and drew 11 fouls. The goalkeepers combined to made six saves, and 16 different Leathernecks made an appearance. Kyle Owen, Cameron Territo and Daisuke Otsuka all played the game's full 90 minutes.
 
"I thought we did well, we showed up with energy but unfortunately we lost the game in the first half. We battled back but it's just not enough with ten men," Rhodin said. "We had good tactics, but you throw all the tactics out when you go down a man. (Josee Primeau) especially helped me out there, together we found a good tactic to shut them down and we got our first goal which was fun as well."
 
The Leathernecks are on the road for their next game, heading to face the Louisville Cardinals at Dr. Mark and Cindy Lynn Stadium in Louisville, Ky. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday (Sept. 28).
 
 
 
 
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