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Leathernecks Begin Home Stand

| By: WIU Athletic Communications

Northern Illinois and Northern Kentucky visit John MacKenzie Alumni Field.

Who | Western Illinois (0-3-2) vs Northern Illinois (2-2-2), Northern Kentucky (2-4)
When | Saturday, Sept. 17 – 1 p.m. / Tuesday, Sept. 20 - 4 p.m.
Where | John MacKenzie Alumni Field – Macomb, Ill.
Social media | Instagram + Twitter + Facebook 

Matchup History: The Leathernecks and Huskies have matched up 30 times in program history, last meeting on Sept. 18 of last season. Northern Illinois won 6-0 in a game that saw Ryan DeBois play all 90 minutes and record one shot as the Leathernecks drew 11 fouls while committing just six. Against Northern Kentucky, Western Illinois holds a 1-1 record, winning 2-0 in the last matchup on Sept. 28, 2014.

So far this season: WIU men's soccer is currently 0-3-2 and coming off another weekend of split results. The split started on Friday (Sept. 9) at home, facing off against SIUE in a game that finished as a 1-0 loss. Despite controlling 55% of the possession and holding back the Cougar attack for over 89 minutes, SIUE found a breakthrough and was able to take home a one-goal victory. Against Milwaukee on Tuesday (Sept. 13), WIU hit the road and came out with a result. Xavier Brown scored his second goal of the season off a Jack Immesoete assist less than seven minutes after WIU conceded, scoring from the outside of the box and leveling the game in the 30th minute. Neither team scored the rest of the way and it went final at 1-1.

Scouting the opponents: NIU is currently 2-2-2 on the year and coming off a 2-0 loss to UIC; the Huskies' two wins this year came against St. Mary's (Calif.) on Aug. 28 and Milwaukee on Sept. 5. Taisai Arima leads the team in points (seven) thanks to three goals and one assist, and NIU has had three different goalkeepers make appearances in six games. The NKU Norse have lost three of the team's last four matchups, falling to Bellarmine, winning 6-0 at VMI, then dropping games to Robert Morris and No. 25 Xavier. Like NIU, NKU has had three different goalkeepers suit up through six games, and the team will play at home against Fort Wayne on Saturday (Sept. 17) before trekking to Macomb.  
 
Players to watch: In his first season at WIU, Sofian Maghouz has made an immediate impact in the Leatherneck attack. Coming off a season in which he scored eight goals and added four assists for Iowa Lakes Community College, Maghouz scored in his first start as a Leatherneck and is among the Summit League's best when it comes to finding shooting opportunities. Despite playing fewer games than anyone among the top-10, he's tied for the league-lead in shots on goal with eight.
 
After being named Second Team All-Summit last season, Alex Flowers has continued to play a huge role for Western Illinois this season. Flowers has started every game this season and is among the Summit League's elite when it comes to stopping the ball from going in the net. He currently ranks second in the league in total saves (24), second in goals against average (1.6), second in save percentage (.743), and is fourth for average saves per game (4.8).
 
Jack Immesoete has found his form in recent games, as the Peoria, Ill., native has recorded points in two of his last three contests. He scored his first career goal in Western's 3-3 draw with IUPUI on Sept. 4 to give the Leathernecks an early lead on Sept. 4, then, two games later, found Xavier Brown for his long-distance goal against the Milwaukee Panthers. With three points, Immesoete ranks third on the team in that category. 

What's next: After Saturday and Tuesday's contests, Summit League action commences with Omaha making the journey to Macomb for a match scheduled to be played next Saturday (Sept. 24) at 1 p.m. at John MacKenzie Alumni Field.
 
 
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