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OVC Matchweek Three Sees Leathernecks Host SIUE, Little Rock

| By: WIU ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

Western Illinois Women’s Soccer looks to build on Sunday’s win with a pair of home matches.

Where | John MacKenzie Alumni Field - Macomb, Ill. 
When | 
Thursday, October 3, 3 PM vs. SIUE             Stream    Live Stats
Sunday, October 6, 1 PM vs. Little Rock        Stream    Live Stats
(All times central)

About the Cougars:
SIUE (1-6-3, 0-2-1) got off to a hot start, getting results in their first three matches, but since then, has only gotten one draw, a 0-0 affair against Little Rock. Grad student Matea Diekema leads the Cougars, as she's been named the OVC Defensive Player of the Year in 2022 and 2023. The Cougar defense will be a key factor in the match, as SIUE has allowed one goal or less in all four matches they've recorded a result.

Meet the Trojans:
Little Rock (5-5-2, 2-0-1) currently sits atop the OVC, picking up wins over Morehead State and Tennesee Tech, two teams that were slated as favorites to win the conference. Goalkeeper Peyton Urban and the Little Rock defense have been as good as it gets in the Ohio Valley, as the sophomore has tallied a league-leading five shutouts. 

Three Points:
Western Illinois battled to pick up a crucial win over Southeast Missouri State on Sunday, winning two-one as the Leathernecks scored both goals off corner kicks. The three points were the first points that WIU (1-9, 1-2) has snagged all season. They now sit tied for seventh in the conference, with two big opportunities to either stay put or move up in the standings this weekend. 

Key Returners:
Western Illinois returns 23 players from its 2023 squad. Isabel Navas Rodriguez, a fifth-year keeper from Madrid, Spain, comes back to the Leathernecks after being named OVC Goalkeeper of the Week on three occasions last season. Sydnee Sagal, a fifth-year midfielder from Oconomowoc, WI, returns after starting in all matches in 2023. Junior outside back Hana Daoudi returns to this year's squad after finishing third among all outfield players in minutes last season. Alanna Pennington is looking to build on her 2023 freshman campaign where she started all 16 matches and scored thrice, leading the squad. 

Player to Watch:
Senior attacker/midfielder Kayla Turner was named Western Illinois' representative as a Player to Watch. Turner, in her fourth season with the Leathernecks, started 16 games as a freshman, scoring once and assisting three goals in the 2021 campaign. Turner missed most of her sophomore season, only playing three games, but bounced back last season in a super-sub role. Turner scored the Leathernecks' first goal of the OVC conference season, helping lead Western Illinois to a 1-1 draw at UT Martin. Turner also got an assist in a 3-1 win over Green Bay in 2023 and finished fourth on the 2023 side in shot attempts with ten.  

Fresh Faces:
Despite the 23 returning players, seven newcomers to the 2024 squad will look to make an impact. Coach Josee Primeau bolstered an offense that struggled to put the ball in the net in 2023, adding three junior transfer forwards to the squad. A native of Crocker, MO, Callie McMurtrey joins the team after a pair of seasons at Jefferson College. From Cody, WY, Autumn Wilson scored 16 goals in 16 games as a sophomore and will look to provide a scoring punch for the Leathernecks. Rounding out the group of transfers is Landry McCoid, who dominated ICCAC competition with Iowa Central CC in 2023. McCoid scored 35 goals in 17 games last season before joining the Leathernecks. Four freshmen also join this year's team, goalkeeper Ariel Bernard, outside back Hilary Halpin, defensive midfielder Aofie Boulter, and midfielder Ava Bell.

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