MACOMB, Ill. -
The Western Illinois men's soccer team travels to Eastern Illinois on
Friday at 3:30 p.m. in attempt to snap its eight-game winless streak.
The Fighting Leathernecks (2-7-3, 0-1-2 Summit League) are also looking to continue the Panthers' (2-10, 0-3 Summit League) losing streak, currently at four games.
Eastern Illinois is the Leathernecks' most frequent opponent all-time, as this marks the 49th meeting between the two squads.
Western Illinois will then travel to IUPUI on Oct. 20 at 6 p.m. before closing out the regular season with four straight home games.
THE BREAKDOWN
WHO: Western Illinois vs. Eastern Illinois
WHEN: Friday, October 12 at 3:30 p.m. CST
LOCATION: Charleston, Ill.
STADIUM: Lakeside Field (1,000)
Click HERE for live stats
Click HERE for match notes
MATCH NOTES
A LOOK AT THE PANTHERS: Eastern Illinois enters today’s game with a 2-10 overall record, and is 0-3 in The Summit League as an affiliate member...The Panthers’ two wins came against Lipscomb and Loyola (Chicago)...Eastern Illinois has been outscored 12-2 during its current four-game losing streak...Chris Boswell, Garet Christianson and Tayron Martin are tied for the team-lead with four points each...The Panthers rank second in the conference with 163 shots and have scored 11 goals, fifth in the league...Two different keepers have seen action in goal, including Evan Turner (0-4 record and 2.28 GAA) and Garrett Creasor (2-6 record, 2.31 GAA).
SERIES HISTORY: Western Illinois has played Eastern Illinois more than it has any other team, playing a total of 48 games...The Panthers hold a 30-13-5 advantage over the Leathernecks all-time...Last year, the Leathernecks defeated the Panthers 3-0...Current sophomores Mario Alvarez and Torrance Brown each scored a goal, in addition to currently-injured senior Husref Jupic...Current assistant coach Andy Ryan made three saves in a shutout in goal...Eastern Illinois outshot WIU, 15-13.
LAST TIME OUT: The Leathernecks are coming off a 1-1 Summit League tie against Fort Wayne on Oct. 6...The Mastodons scored in the fifth minute, but freshman Tyler Chavez answered in the 12th minute on an assist from senior Nathan Bruinsma...The Leathernecks took fifteen shots on goal, including four from both junior Charlie Bales and sophomore Mario Alvarez...The Panthers are coming off a 4-1 loss to Omaha on Oct. 6...Sophomore Will Butler scored his first goal of the season on a Colin Rook assist.
OFFENSIVE DEFENDER: Bales, a junior defender and the reigning Summit League Defensive Player of the Year, is also an offensive threat in addition to a significant defensive presence...He leads the team in assists (two) and has totaled 14 points and 97 shots in his three-year career as a Leatherneck.
CLOSE CONTESTS: Of the Leathernecks’ seven losses, five have come by just one goal: Central Arkansas (1-0), Graceland (1-0), UIC (1-0), Northern Kentucky (1-0) and Drake (2-1).
BUILDING OFFENSE: The Leathernecks have scored in three straight games for the first time since scoring in eight consecutive games last year during a stretch when the team went 7-1, clinched The Summit League regular season title and won The Summit League tournament as well, before eventually being shut out in the College Cup.
FRESHMEN GALORE: After scoring in both of this season’s exhibition games, Chavez finally netted his first official collegiate goal against Fort Wayne...Another freshman, Austin Gochneaur, leads the team in points on two goals and one assist...Fellow freshman Ken Tryggestad scored in his first appearance off the bench against Oakland...Other freshmen have been strong contributors, as well, including Erick Bloom (11 games, 10 starts, 14 shots), Maclean Johnson (six games, four starts, one assist), and Sammuel Worsley (eight games, six starts).
SUPER SENIOR: Bruinsma is tied for second on the team with four points on a goal and two assists...His game-tying goal against Omaha was his 12th of his career in Purple & Gold...He also recently surpassed 100 career shots, standing at 115 over his four years...He has finished either first or second on the team in goals scored each of his first three seasons.
READY TO REBOUND: The Leathernecks are 7-3-4 following a loss in the past two seasons.
INJURY RIDDLED: Just six players have stayed healthy and played in all 11 games: Bruinsma, Gochneaur, Alvarez, Bloom, senior Aaron Appel, and sophomore Yves Dietrich.
