MACOMB, Ill. — The Western Illinois men's soccer team will look to build on its season-opening victory when the Leathernecks travel to Chicago to face DePaul on Thursday, Aug. 27. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m.
Western Illinois enters the matchup with a 1-0-0 record after rallying for a 3-2 victory over Quincy in its regular season opener. Junior midfielder George Frost scored twice, while Marco Presta added a goal as the Leathernecks responded to an early deficit with three unanswered goals.
Quincy struck first, but Presta leveled the match before Frost gave Western Illinois its first lead of the afternoon. The Leathernecks continued to create opportunities, and Frost later converted a penalty kick after Rashidi Ishibwami battled to win the opportunity, extending Western's advantage to 3-1.
"I think it was just the team working hard and chasing second balls, making runs," Frost said. "I think that made a big difference when those runs were being made, and we managed to find ourselves through on goal."
Quincy found the back of the net late to cut the deficit to one, but the Leathernecks held on to secure the season-opening victory.
Frost enters Thursday's contest as Western Illinois' leading scorer after his two-goal performance against Quincy. The Leathernecks will now look to carry that offensive momentum into their first road match of the season.
"It's the same thing we've been doing all preseason," Frost said. "It's just working hard in training every single day, making sure we stick together, keep pushing on and carry it into when we play."
DePaul enters the matchup with a 0-1-1 record and is coming off a 6-0 defeat at Ohio State on Monday evening. The Buckeyes controlled the match from the opening whistle, building a 4-0 halftime advantage.
Ohio State scored in the 10th and 29th minutes before DePaul was reduced to 10 players following a red card in the 38th minute. The Buckeyes took advantage, adding two more goals before halftime and two additional goals in the second half.
The Blue Demons will return home Thursday looking for their first victory of the season, while Western Illinois will aim to open the year with consecutive wins.
Thursday's contest marks the first road test of the season for the Leathernecks and the first meeting between the two teams in 2026.
Western Illinois and DePaul are scheduled to kick off at 3 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 27, in Chicago.
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