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Men's Soccer Hits the Road

| By: WIU Athletic Communications

Leathernecks take on Fort Wayne and IUPUI.

Who | Western Illinois (0-1-0) at Purdue Fort Wayne (0-1-1) / IUPUI (0-1-1)
When | Friday, Sept. 2 - 3 p.m. / Sunday, Sept. 4 - 4 p.m.
Where | Hefner Soccer Complex – Fort Wayne Ind. / Michael A. Carroll Stadium – Indianapolis, Ind.
Social media | Instagram + Twitter + Facebook 

Matchup History: The Leathernecks and Mastodons have played 18 times in program history, with Western Illinois holding a 12-4-2 record and falling 2-0 at John MacKenzie Alumni Field in the most recent matchup, which took place on Sept. 5, 2021. Western out-shot the opposition 16-14 in the game but was unable to put one past a Fort Wayne goalkeeper who finished with six saves. IUPUI also played in Macomb last season, with the Jaguars winning 1-0 to level the all-time series, which now sits at 11-11-3. Western out-shot IUPUI 17-7 and led the game in corner kicks, but a 78th-minute penalty kick goal was the difference.

Players to watch: Alex Flowers is coming off a strong sophomore season that him earn Second Team All-Summit honors for his performances. Flowers made 65 saves in 14 appearances (13 starts) last season and has carried that momentum into 2022, making a number of acrobatic plays and finishing with six saves in the season opener against Central Methodist. He would add two more against Drake in a game that was abandoned in the 58th minute due to a lack of sunlight.
 
Abdul Hypolite started his first official game against Central Methodist on Thursday (Aug. 25) and played 54 minutes, recording one shot on goal while playing out of the Leatherneck midfield. Two days later against Drake, he gave WIU a lead less than four minutes into the game after finishing a ball at the far post. A freshman from St. George, Trinidad and Tobago, Hypolite does have previous ties to Western Illinois, as his older brother, Tacuma Sadlow, played one season under Coach Johnson.

So far this season: Western Illinois is 0-1 on the young season, falling 1-0 to Central Methodist in the season opener on Aug. 25 and finishing Monday's matchup with Drake tied at 1-1. Freshmen have played a key role for the Leathernecks this season, with Hypolite, Marco Presta, Oscar Olingdahl and Liam Gainey all earning starts in the season opener against CMU. Western Illinois does have several experienced veterans in the mix as well, as Kyle Owen, Xavier Brown and Ryan DeBois earned starts in the season opener; the trio have a combined 139 career appearances.

Scouting the opponents: Fort Wayne is currently 0-1-1 and coming off a 1-1 draw at Belmont after falling in the season opener at No. 22 Lipscomb. Three different players have recorded one goal and one assist for the Mastodons this season: Moses Akimana, Keith Larson and Cesar Cosio. For IUPUI, the season is off to an 0-1-1 record after a 2-2 draw with Marian and 3-1 loss at Evansville. Three different Jaguars have scored this season while goalkeeper Lucas Morefield has made seven saves in two appearances.

What's next: The Leathernecks come back to John MacKenzie Alumni Field for the next game, hosting SIUE next Friday (Sept. 9), before hitting the road for a Tuesday (Sept. 13) matchup against Milwaukee. Kickoffs are scheduled for 4:30 p.m. and 5 p.m., respectively.
 
 
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