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Western Illinois University Athletics

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1
Western Ill. WIU (2-14-1, 1-7-0)
3
Winner St. Thomas (MN) UST (3-10-3, 1-5-2)
Western Ill. WIU
(2-14-1, 1-7-0)
1
Final
3
St. Thomas (MN) UST
(3-10-3, 1-5-2)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Western Ill. WIU 0 1 1
St. Thomas (MN) UST 3 0 3

Game Recap: Men's Soccer | | WIU ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

Leathernecks Fall in St. Paul

Western lost 1-3 on Saturday as they closed the 2023 season vs. St. Thomas

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Western looked to end the 2023 season on a high note, as they traveled north to Minnesota to take on St. Thomas on Saturday afternoon. Prior to the match, both teams had been eliminated from Summit League tournament qualification, with the Leathernecks tallying three points on the year, from a prior win against the Tommies back on October 7th in Macomb. 

In Saturday afternoon's rematch, the Tommies looked to strike early, just as the Leathernecks did in the previous matchup. St. Thomas would be dominant offensively in the first half, as the Tommies grabbed a trio of goals inside 15 minutes to take a 3-0 lead. While things looked dire for the Leathernecks early, Western would still keep fighting as they saw a pair of solid chances later in the first half. Despite a corner kick and a pair of shot attempts on goal, Western couldn't get on the board before the break. 

In the 12th minute of the second half, the Leathernecks would get on the board, as Liam Gainey fired one in from near the edge of the box to reduce the deficit to two, hoping to spark a comeback for the Leathernecks. Gainey's goal marked his second of the year, as the sophomore from Mannheim, Germany would finish tied for first on the team on the year, along with Xavier Gagnon. Despite getting some momentum from Gainey's finish, 3-1 would be the final score as St. Thomas jumped Western for a fifth-place Summit League finish. 

The Leathernecks close out the year with a 2-14-1 record, including a 1-7 record in conference play, finishing sixth in the Summit League. As the Leathernecks prepare to join the Ohio Valley Conference for the 2024 season, Dr. Eric Johnson departs the Summit League as the conference's all-time leader in wins, with 187 overall wins and 78 in conference action over 27 seasons at the helm. 
 
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