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Western Illinois University Athletics

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3
Winner Western Ill. WIU (3-3-1, 0-0-0)
2
Gonzaga GON (6-2-0, 0-0-0)
Winner
Western Ill. WIU
(3-3-1, 0-0-0)
3
Final
2
Gonzaga GON
(6-2-0, 0-0-0)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Western Ill. WIU 2 1 3
Gonzaga GON 1 1 2

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

Leathernecks Emerge Victorious in Five-Goal Thriller

Western Illinois defeated Gonzaga 3-2 in an instant classic late Sunday night.

SPOKANE, Wash. - Western Illinois University men's soccer took on the surging Gonzaga Bulldogs on Sunday night, as the Leathernecks looked to pick up their first win over a Division I opponent. The Bulldogs entered Sunday's matchup with a 6-1 record and a big away win over #9 Seattle, but Western Illinois got the best of the Spokane side, taking home a 3-2 victory. 

Gonzaga took advantage of an early opportunity, scoring in the fourth minute. 

Western kept pressure on after allowing the goal though, as freshman forward Ty Duax dribbled through defenders into the box, firing a shot attempt before taking a deflection out to Liam Gainey. The German junior fired in a goal off his left foot to tie things up, Gainey's second goal of the season. 

The next big chance came in the 22nd minute, as Gonzaga nearly re-took the lead, firing a cross and a header that found the back of the net, but was ruled offside. On the ensuing free kick, Duax got the ball at midfield and went all the way into the 18-yard box, firing a shot and taking the lead for the Leathernecks, a massive momentum swing. The goal was a career first for the freshman from Ankeny, Iowa.

The Leathernecks held strong for the remainder of the half, taking the 2-1 lead into the break. 

In the second, Western looked composed to start, as Gainey and Gagnon fired early shots that were both saved. The Leathernecks also got a pair of corners as they looked to extend the lead, but were unable to convert the chances into goals. Gonzaga equalized in the 66th, putting one past Youssou Ouendeno, who subbed in to play keeper in the second half. 

Western Illinois did well to clear out a Gonzaga corner in the 71st, keeping things knotted at two. The Leathernecks got some nice build-up play going in the 75th, as Oscar Olingdahl laid in a great ball to Jimmy Baars just outside the box. Baars then played in a perfect pass to Xavier Gagnon about five yards from the net, and Gagnon got the Bulldog keeper to commit before playing a perfect short pass to Tyler Philpott who slotted away the game-winning goal. Philpott, a freshman who leads the Leathernecks in shot attempts, finally got his first goal, and in dramatic fashion. 

With just 15 minutes to play after the goal, Western Illinois had to play perfect defense for the remainder of the match and did just that. Gonzaga fired seven shots in the final 12 minutes, but failed to score on any of them as the Leathernecks held on for the massive road victory. Ouendeno came up big with three saves down the stretch. The winning effort marked the first road triumph since October 22, 2022, a 1-0 win at St. Thomas. It was the first non-conference road win for WIU since October 23, 2018, a 1-0 victory over Detroit Mercy. 

Western Illinois is back at home on Friday, taking on in-state rival Northern Illinois on John MacKenzie Alumni Field. 

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