Macomb, IL-Western Illinois enters the match ranked fourth in the OVC, holding a 1-1-1 conference record and 3-8-1 overall. The Leathernecks are looking to bounce back following a 0-2 loss to Lindenwood on Sunday afternoon at Hunter Stadium—their first conference defeat of the season.
WIU showed early offensive promise in that match, with senior forward Liam Gainey sparking the attack in the 19th minute. Sophomore defender/midfielder Benjamin Graham and junior forward Diego Porras followed with key chances before the half ended scoreless against the top shooting team in the league.
Lindenwood struck quickly in the second half, and despite resilient Leatherneck attempts from Bruce Harris and Nathan Bessinger, two goals ultimately sealed the result for the Lions.
Gainey continues to be the offensive leader for WIU, tallying five goals and one assist for 11 points this season. Graham has proven clutch with two game-winning goals, including one against SIUE.
UIW (4-3-4 overall, 0-1-2 OVC) returns home to Benson Stadium after three straight draws and one loss since their last victory on Sept. 12. The Cardinals currently sit in sixth place in the OVC standings.
The Cardinals have historically had the upper hand in this matchup, leading the all-time series 2-0. Their last meeting ended in a 2-0 victory for UIW.
Offensively, the Cardinals are led by Diego Robles, who tops the team with five points (two goals, one assist) and a 62.5% shot-on-target rate. Noe Robles closely followed with one goal and one assist.
Sophomore forward Emanuel "Manny" Martinez has emerged as a key finisher, leading the team in shot efficiency (87.5%) with two goals on seven shots on target. On the defensive end, Giovanni Padilla has been instrumental, leading the team with four assists while anchoring the back line.
The Leathernecks looks to improve to 2-1-1 in OVC Conference play this Thursday. Match starts at 7 p.m. and can be watched on ESPN+.
FOLLOW THE LEATHERNECKS
For all the latest information on the Leatherneck Men's Soccer team, please visit GoLeathernecks.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Leathernecks on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook.
