DES MOINES, Iowa - Katie Condon's goal in the 27th minute gave the Western Illinois women's soccer team its first victory of the year in a 1-0 win at Grand View on Friday.
"I was very happy with the way we possessed the ball today," said head coach Tony Guinn. "We played very good, entertaining soccer and the team really did well taking the things we worked on in practice and using them during the match."
The Fighting Leathernecks (1-2-1) struck first when Condon put back a rebound after Grand View goalkeeper Katie Zenz stopped Jenny Green's shot seconds earlier.
Green's shot came after Miranda Graham sent a corner kick inside the six-yard box. Both players were credited with an assist on Condon's goal.
"It was really a matter of being in the right place at the right time," Condon said. "We ran the corner kick the exact way we drew it up and it paid off for us."
Western dominated the first half of play, thanks in part to a driving wind that aided the Leatherneck attack in the first 45 minutes.
"The weather was a little bit of a factor but we dealt with it well," said junior goalkeeper Jessica Walsh. "It effected us a little more in the second half since Grand View had the wind, but we played well defensively as a unit tonight."
The Leathernecks had several chances to tack on another goal, but a header by Amber Davis went just high in the closing seconds first half.
Western also was denied a second score when a Viking defender stepped in front of shot before the ball could find the back of the net.
The Leathernecks picked up their first shutout since a 1-0 victory over Oral Roberts last October.
"We've worked really hard in practice on connecting passes and keeping possession," Graham said. "We got some good chances because of it and were able to create more opportunities."
Western outshot Grand View by a 14 to five margin, including seven to two in shots on goal. The Leathernecks were awarded seven corners to the Vikings' one.
Walsh (1-0-0) picked up the win in her first full match since missing the 2009 season with an injury, making two highlight reel saves to keep a clean sheet.
The Leathernecks will resume play when they travel to South Dakota for a rematch of the season opener at 1 p.m., Monday, Sept. 6.
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CHICAGO, Ill. - The Western Illinois men's soccer team played DePaul to a 1-1 draw Friday, Sept. 3.
The Fighting Leathernecks (1-0-1) struck first when Darryl Odom found Cosimo Patano in the 28th minute to make the score 1-0.
"We played very well tonight," said head coach Dr. Eric Johnson. "Both sides played great soccer and it was fun to watch."
Neither team could capitalize on a scoring chance until the Blue Demons (0-1-1) found the equalizer with just under four minutes remaining in the match.
"DePaul really turned up the tempo in the last ten minutes and it paid off for them," Johnson said.
With the score tied at a goal apiece, the match moved into overtime where neither team could come up with a quality chance before the match ended in a draw.
The Leathernecks outshot DePaul 11 to 10, including seven to four in shots on goal. Western was awarded five corners while the Blue Demons were given six.
Western Illinois also committed 15 fouls to DePaul's six.
Husref Jupic and Oskar Gasecki each finished the day with three shots as Andy Ryan (1-0-1) made three saves to remain unbeaten on the year.
"I saw a lot of improvement in our team from the SIU-Edwardsville match on Wednesday," Johnson said. "We've gotten a lot better already and we have a chance to be very good this year."
The Leathernecks return to action when they play host to Marquette in the 2010 home opener at 5 p.m. on Sunday
