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Western Illinois Hosts Two Matches in Final Week

| By: WIU ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

Western Illinois Men’s Soccer faces off with Incarnate Word and Houston Christian this weekend.

Where | John MacKenzie Alumni Field - Macomb, Ill. 
When | 
Thursday, October 31, 3 PM vs. Incarnate Word        Stream        Live Stats
Saturday, November 3, 1 PM vs. Houston Christian    Stream        Live Stats
(All times central)

Red-Hot Cardinals:
Incarnate Word, started the 2024 season with a 2-5-3 overall record, but the Cardinals have found a way to get results in recent matches. Unbeaten in their last six, Incarnate Word has picked up four straight draws, including three to top-four teams in the conference, SIUE, Lindenwood, and Houston Christian. The Cardinals stand fifth in the conference with ten points and a 2-2-4 record. Particularly dominant on the defensive side of the ball, UIW has allowed just four goals in their last six matches and has an even goal differential despite outshooting their opponents by a pair of shots per contest. On October 6, WIU and UIW squared off, with Incarnate Word coming out on top in a 2-1 win. 

Huskies Rematch:
Houston Christian (7-5-4, 5-1-2) has been one of the top sides in the Ohio Valley, currently standing in second place with 17 points. HCU is unbeaten in their last five contests with wins over Southern Indiana, Eastern Illinois, and SIUE, and draws against Incarnate Word and Lindenwood. The Huskies defeated the Leathernecks earlier this season, as HCU jumped out to an early three-nil lead and held on for the win. Ryan Okerayi and Ethan Giwa-McNeil have been great attacking pieces for Houston Christian, so stopping them will be important for a WIU result. 

Leatherneck Check-in:
Western Illinois (7-9-1, 2-6) currently stands in sixth place in the OVC with six points in conference play. A common theme for the Leathernecks in 2024 has been their home success, as WIU has won every match at home except their most recent one against Eastern Illinois. The home-field advantage will need to help the Leathernecks in their final two matches as they seek qualification to the OVC Tournament in their first year in the conference, where the top six sides qualify. 

Senior Day:
Western Illinois will be honoring a pair of seniors following Sunday's match, Youssou Ouendeno and Jimmy Baars. Ouendeno, a goalkeeper from Paris, France, served as the number-one keeper for the Leathernecks in 2023, starting in 14 matches, and recorded 55 saves. Baars, a midfielder from Kudelstaart, Netherlands, has appeared in 29 matches over two seasons with WIU, starting all 15 matches in 2024. Baars has recorded a pair of goals and an assist this season. 

Another for the Captain:
On October 15, Leatherneck sophomore defender Joel McIntyre was named the Ohio Valley Conference's Defensive Player of the Week for the third time this season, making him the only player in the conference to earn three Defensive Player of the Week honors in 2024. McIntyre led the Leathernecks to a 1-0 win over Liberty, shutting out one of the nation's top scoring offenses. Against Lindenwood, McIntyre made a stellar goal-line clearance to help keep the Leathernecks level. 

Weekly Award Sweep:
Western Illinois swept weekly awards after dominating Northern Illinois, as three Leathernecks picked up OVC Player of the Week honors on Tuesday, September 24. Freshman keeper Alexis Michaud was tabbed the conference's Goalkeeper of the Week after a seven-save clean sheet. Joel McIntyre picked up Co-Defensive Player of the Week, leading the Leathernecks to a shutout victory. Senior midfielder Jimmy Baars was named Offensive Player of the Week after netting a pair of goals, making it a Leatherneck sweep in the OVC. 

Player of the Week:
Following the first week of Leatherneck men's soccer action, center-back and sophomore captain Joel McIntyre was named the OVC's Defensive Player of the Week. McIntyre helped lead the Leatherneck defense to a one-all draw with the Bulldogs. The award was the first of McIntyre's career. 

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.
 
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