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1
Western Ill. WestIl (0-1-1, 0-0-0)
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Butler Butler (1-0-1, 0-0-0)
Western Ill. WestIl
(0-1-1, 0-0-0)
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Final
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Butler Butler
(1-0-1, 0-0-0)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Western Ill. WestIl 0 1 1
Butler Butler 0 1 1

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

Leathernecks Earn Road Draw at Butler

Liam Gainey scored the Leathernecks’ first goal of the season in the one-all draw.

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Western Illinois men's soccer traveled to Butler for their second match of the 2024 season on Sunday evening. The match saw the Leathernecks look much more refined than Thursday's opener against Grand Canyon, holding on for a draw while playing the last 19 minutes with just ten men. 

The first half had a slow start, with no team having any real chance for the first few minutes. Freshman winger Tyler Philpott had two great slide tackles around the fifth minute, dispossessing Butler defenders. In the eighth, the Leathernecks worked into the final third for the first time in the match, as Oscar Olingdahl sent in a nice pass to Xavier Gagnon who was just offside.

A few minutes later, Tyler Philpott had his first chance of the game, getting onto the opposite side and firing a shot that was saved. Butler had a few good chances to score in the first as well, firing a shot over the bar in the 25th minute and getting a corner in the 27th. The Leathernecks made a double-sub in the 33rd, putting on Diego Porras and Liam Gainey, who both made an instant impact. Porras created a great chance on his first dribble by getting past his defender but found Gainey just a little too late as the linesman's flag went up for an offside call. 

Butler had their best scoring opportunity of the first half in the 34th, firing a shot towards Leatherneck keeper Micah Ramirez who made a great save to keep the score level. Western had a few more chances to close the half but went into the break tied nil-nil. 

Philpott had another chance very early in the second, but his attempt was saved by Butler's keeper. Things started to get heated early on in the second half as well, rising tension led to three yellows being handed out in the first 13 minutes of the half. 

Coming off of a free kick near midfield, the freshman Philpott broke away on the right wing and got in behind his defender, firing a quick pass to Leatherneck forward Liam Gainey who slotted away his opportunity into the right corner of the net to make it one nil. 

Gainey's third goal of his Leatherneck career gave Western some comfort for about ten minutes before a handball from Ryan Wrobleski in the box saw him draw his second yellow card and give the Bulldogs a penalty kick. Micah Ramirez stepped up to the challenge, though, making not one, but two incredible saves to deny the Bulldogs an equalizer.

Butler did get their equalizer in the 77th, but the Leathernecks fought tooth and nail with ten men to keep it tied at one until the final whistle. Several Leathernecks made key clearances late in the match, showing a lot of fight down the stretch to seal the draw. 

Western Illinois finishes off their opening three-game road trip on Thursday, taking on Bradley on Thursday, August 29th.
 
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