Coach Eric Johnson, Men's Soccer Program Announces Pair of 2024 Signees

Thursday, November 09, 2023 | By: WIU ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

MACOMB, IL — Western Illinois Men's Soccer announced the signing of two players in the class of 2024 on Wednesday. Ben Graham and Diego Zarate will join the program for the 2024 season, as the Leathernecks make the move to the Ohio Valley Conference.

A midfielder and outside back, Ben Graham will be the first of two signings in the class of 2024. Graham is a native of Burlington, Wisconsin, and attended Burlington High School. At Burlington, Graham has been named as an All-Conference Honorable Mention, All-Conference Second Team, First Team All-County, and Second Team All-County. Graham is also an All-County Kicker for Burlington's football team, as well as an All-County golfer.

Graham has also played in US Youth Soccer's Olympic Development Program, as he stated getting to play in Toyota Stadium in Frisco with ODP was one of his favorite experiences as a soccer player. Ben credited his parents as a major influence in his career, stating "My parents have been a major influence on me because they always are there for me. They always push me to do better each day on and off the field."

When asked about his decision to come to WIU, Graham said "I chose Western because of the potential that the young team has, and how the teachers help you with balancing sports and academics.

An outside back from Oak Park, Illinois, Diego Zarate will join the Leathernecks in 2023. Zarate attends Oak Park and River Forest High School, where he's been a member of the school's honor roll and dean's list. At OPRF, Zarate earned All-Conference honors.

Zarate was teammates with Graham on the ODP's Midwest Regional Team, in the 2006 age group. Diego stated that being coached by Dr. Eric Johnson with ODP was a major reason why he chose to continue his soccer career at WIU, saying "I had a great experience being coached by Coach Johnson with ODP. I really enjoyed playing under his coaching/playing style."

Zarate noted that his father was a major influence on his sports career, saying "My dad has helped me and guided me through my journey so far." Diego's father, Mike, is the all-time leader in goals scored and points at nearby Cornell College.

"We are losing some key players to graduation and having Ben and Diego committing to attending Western and our soccer program is a huge plus for us," said Leatherneck Head Coach Dr. Eric Johnson. Johnson had high praise for the pair of new recruits, as he said "They are good students, good team-mates and will make an impact on our team. Their success as regional and national ODP team members is not a surprise to me and is a good indicator of how they will fare as college players."

Graham and Zarate will bring some needed depth in the midfield and at outside back in 2024, with seven seniors departing the program following the 2023 season. The Leathernecks will join the Ohio Valley Conference in 2024, marking the dawn of a new era for Western Illinois Men's Soccer.

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