Skip To Main Content

Upcoming Events and Recent Results

Western Illinois University Athletics

Ellington

Leathernecks to Host Milwaukee, Loyola Chicago

| By: WIU Athletic Communications

This weekend’s matchups mark the first home appearances of the 2022-23 season.

Who | Western Illinois (0-1-2) vs Milwaukee (2-1-0) / Loyola Chicago (2-1-1)
When | Friday, Sept. 2 - 4 p.m. / Sunday, Sept. 4 - 1 p.m.
Where | John MacKenzie Alumni Field – Macomb, Ill.
Social media | Instagram + Twitter + Facebook 

Previous matchup: Western Illinois and Milwaukee have played eight times in program history dating back to the first matchup on Sept. 5, 1997, with the Panthers controlling the series with seven wins in eight matchups. Both teams matched up last season and the game ended in favor of Milwaukee. Against Loyola Chicago, Western Illinois holds an 0-6-2 all-time record, and this matchup hasn't taken place since the Leathernecks lost on the road in 2014.

So far this season: Leatherneck women's soccer holds an 0-1-2 record through three games this season, most recently facing IUPUI in a scoreless draw last Sunday (Aug. 28). Sunday's result marked the first clean sheet of the 2022 season after Western Illinois finished with three all of last season. The team is averaging eight shots per game, with nearly five of those shots being on frame; 58.3% of Western's shots this season have been on-target, outpacing the opponents' average of 34.1%. All of the team's goals this season have been assisted as well.
 
Scouting the opponents: Coming off a 19-2 season last year, the Milwaukee Panthers have opened the season with two wins in three, most recently defeating Lindenwood 2-0. Kayla Rollins leads the team in goals with two and goalkeeper Parker Donahugh has made 14 saves in three appearances. Milwaukee did face Western's second opponent of the weekend, Loyola Chicago, in an exhibition during the preseason; Loyola Chicago was victorious 1-0. Since then, the Ramblers are 2-1-1 in the regular season and coming off a 1-1 draw against no. 24 Wisconsin. Madeleine Barone leads the team in points with four (one goal, two assists), while four different players have scored this season.
 
Players to watch: Leah Ahlers, now in her second season as a Leatherneck, has stepped into a major role as a sophomore. Ahlers is coming off a freshman season that saw her make 18 appearances with four starts and play 673 total minutes, while scoring one goal. This season, Ahlers has started all three of her appearances and played of 226 minutes, assisting Amy Andrews' first goal against Eastern Michigan on Aug. 18 while playing the full 90.
 
A sophomore forward from Woodbury, Minn., Emmy Ellington has continued to play a big role in her second season at Western Illinois. Ellington played in each of the team's 18 games last season and made 14 starts, and has carried that momentum into this season. She has averaged nearly 83 minutes of action per game this season and even played all 90 against Green Bay while playing a big role in a Leatherneck defense that earned its first shutout of the season.

What's next: WIU will split next weekend's games on the home and road, starting with a road matchup against Northern Illinois on Friday (Sept. 9) before coming home on Sunday (Sept. 11) to face Illinois State. Kickoff against NIU is at 7 p.m., with Sunday's matchup against ISU slated to begin at 1 p.m.
 
Print Friendly Version

Related Videos

Now Playing:

Related Stories