Who: UIC & IU Indy
Where: Chicago, IL & Macomb, IL
When: 9/11 & 9/16 7:00 p.m. & 4:00 p.m.
Tightened Defense
Western Illinois has shown steady improvement defensively, conceding just four goals over its last three matches. That run has kept the Leathernecks in every contest. With more road tests ahead, continuing to limit opportunities and Micah Ramirez continuing to deny shots will be crucial.
OVC Player of the Week
This week, a spark of offense is fueling the Western Illinois men's soccer team, as junior forward Xavier Gagnon earned Ohio Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Week honors after a brilliant showing this past week. Gagnon tallied two goals and an assist, amassing five points to lead the Leathernecks' offense across two games with one resulting in a win against Bradley.
Capitalizing on Opportunities
Western Illinois men's soccer displayed strong offense in their match against Green Bay, but the result highlighted the importance of converting opportunities. Despite falling 1–0, the Leathernecks outshot the Phoenix 11 to 8 overall, and held a 5-4 edge in shots on goal. If the Leathernecks can put the finishing touch on some of those shots, they will be set up to succeed.
Scouting UIC (4-0-1)
UIC enters the contest with a strong 4–0–1 record, showcasing impressive balance in their attack and defense. They are averaging 2.8 goals per game while limiting opponents to just 0.8. The key for Western Illinois will be disrupting UIC's tempo and not falling behind early to a team that has scored 14 goals this season.
Scouting IU Indy (2-2-2)
Western Illinois will face the IU Indianapolis Jaguars at home, who currently sit at 2–2–2 overall. On the road, they have gone 2–1–2 with wins over Butler and Southern Indiana. In their last match, they fell 2-1 to Northern Illinois.
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.
