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Western Illinois University Athletics

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2
Winner Western Ill. WIU (1-9-0, 1-2-0)
1
Southeast Mo. St. SEMO (0-8-1, 0-2-1)
Winner
Western Ill. WIU
(1-9-0, 1-2-0)
2
Final
1
Southeast Mo. St. SEMO
(0-8-1, 0-2-1)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Western Ill. WIU 1 1 2
Southeast Mo. St. SEMO 1 0 1

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

Moran and Matthews’ Milestone Goals Lift Leathernecks Over Redhawks

Western Illinois Women’s Soccer picked up three points on the road at SEMO, winning 2-1

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Western Illinois University Women's Soccer has had a tough start to the 2024 season, battling several injuries as they dropped their first nine matches. On Sunday, the Leathernecks found their groove against SEMO, battling back from a 1-0 deficit to win their first match, 2-1, thanks to a pair of goals on set pieces. 

Southeast Missouri State got on the board first, as the opposing team has scored the first goal in every match for the Leathernecks this season. 

Hana Daoudi, a crucial cog of this Leatherneck side, then subbed in at the 17th minute, her first appearance since August 29—Daoudi, who had missed a month's worth of action due to injury, played the rest of the match. 

The Leathernecks got a corner chance in the 27th and capitalized on the opportunity after a rebound, as the ball landed at the feet of sophomore defender Ali Matthews, who buried it to give the Leathernecks their first equalizer of the season. The goal marked the first of Matthews' career. 

Alanna Pennington, who hasn't played due to injury since September 5, came in in the 27th minute, as the midfielder played 40 minutes in her first match back.  

Despite a few more chances for the Leathernecks, the one-all scoreline held until the halftime break. It marked just the second time all season (9/22 vs. Lindenwood) that WIU entered the second half tied. 

SEMO put immense pressure on the Leatherneck goal to start the second half, as the ball stayed inside Western's third for an extended period. The Western defense held strong though, especially freshman keeper Ariel Bernard, who parried away nine shots in the match. 

Western did a good job around the 62nd minute preventing a SEMO goal by clearing away three consecutive Redhawk corner kicks.

The Leathernecks drew a corner of their own in the 68th, a good chance for the Leathernecks to take the lead. Kayla Turner whipped in a perfect ball to the far side to Rita Moran, who hit a booming header to the far side of the goal, giving WIU its first lead of the 2024 season. It was the first goal of Moran's career, a sophomore defender, from Shakopee, Minnesota. 

Rachel Balinao, Matthews, Moran, Bernard, and the rest of the Leatherneck defense made crucial stops down the stretch and gave the Leathernecks their first points of the season. The win moves the Leathernecks (1-9, 1-2) to seventh place in the Ohio Valley Conference.

This weekend, Western Illinois Women's Soccer plays a pair of matches at John MacKenzie Alumni Field, taking on SIUE on Thursday before playing Little Rock on Sunday.

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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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