Skip To Main Content

Upcoming Events and Recent Results

Western Illinois University Athletics

-
0
Liberty LU (5-4-1, 3-1-0)
1
Winner Western Ill. WIU (6-6-1, 1-3-0)
Liberty LU
(5-4-1, 3-1-0)
0
Final
1
Western Ill. WIU
(6-6-1, 1-3-0)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Liberty LU 0 0 0
Western Ill. WIU 1 0 1

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

Leathernecks Defeat Liberty, Earning First-Ever OVC Victory

WIU Forward Liam Gainey scored the lone goal in a one-nothing victory over the Flames

MACOMB, Ill. - Western Illinois University Men's Soccer looked to get the conference season back on track with a Thursday afternoon matchup with the Liberty Flames. Just twelve days ago, WIU went to Liberty to open conference play and took a tough 7-1 loss. Today was a completely different match, as the Leathernecks grabbed an early goal and played excellent defense as they hung on for their first victory in the new conference. 

Western sported a new lineup and a look in Thursday's match, starting off in a 4-3-3. Micah Ramirez got the start in goal, and he played one of his best matches of the season, playing the full 90 minutes for the sixth time this season. Ramirez tallied five saves in the match, his third most in a match in 2024. In front of him were center-backs Ryan Wrobleski and Joel McIntyre, who played an outstanding role in limiting one of the country's best offenses to zero goals on the day. 

In the eleventh minute, Liam Gainey, stationed on the left wing, cut inside and played a perfect one-two with Gabe Chapa who put Gainey in a perfect position to give the Leathernecks the lead, and the junior from Mannheim, Germany did just that. Gainey buried a ball into the top right corner of the net, his sixth of the season. Gainey currently ranks second in the OVC in goals and third in points with 14. 

After the early goal, the Leathernecks had their work cut out for them in trying to stop the Liberty offense but did just that. Ramirez saved a shot from the OVC's goals leader Michael Huss in the 13th minute, and did a great job on corner kicks late in the half, punching out any ball that the Flames put in. 

Western had a few more chances before the break, as right-winger Diego Porras cut inside and launched a shot from deep that was saved. 20 minutes later, Porras soared a cross into Xavier Gagnon, who made great contact with his head but his shot was also saved by the Liberty keeper. 

The one-nil scoreline held until the halftime whistle, but not before a few key defensive plays from Wrobleski, McIntyre, and company.

Liberty continued to put the pressure on the Leathernecks in the second half, but WIU's defense stayed rock-solid. The Flames had a few solid chances around the 62nd, including three corners,  but were unable to capitalize on them. They continued to get chances deep in the match, but shots kept going out up top, or out wide. 

The Flames got two corners in the 90th minute, as the first one was punched back out for a corner by Ramirez, before the junior transfer from Temple sealed the game with a save with seven seconds left. 

The result is a massive victory for WIU, as they improve to 6-6-1 on the year and 1-3 in conference play. Western has won every home match they've played, moving to 4-0 on the year, and holds a 7-0 goal differential at John Mackenzie Alumni Field in 2024. 

Next up for the Leathernecks is a tough road contest at Lindenwood, who currently sit at 2-1 in OVC play, pending Thursday night's matchup with SIUE. 

FOLLOW THE LEATHERNECKS
For all the latest information on Leatherneck Men's Soccer, please visit GoLeathernecks.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Leathernecks on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Facebook.
 
Print Friendly Version