MACOMB, Ill. - Behind two goals from senior Nathan Bruinsma, the Western Illinois men's soccer team topped Oral Roberts 2-1 in a key Summit League match on Saturday afternoon.
Western Illinois improves to 4-8-4 overall and 2-2-2 in the conference to stay alive in the hunt for a spot in the Summit League tournament. The Golden Eagles fall to 3-12 overall and 2-4 in the league.
Bruinsma earned his first career multi-goal game, scoring in the ninth and 48th minutes.
"The guys played well today, we created a lot of chances for ourselves," head coach Dr. Eric Johnson said. "That's big-time when your senior forward [Bruinsma] comes through and scores two beauties, that's about as good as it gets."
His first goal was a header off passes from senior Aaron Appel and junior Drew Edmond to put Western ahead 1-0 less than nine minutes into the game.
Oral Roberts responded in the 24th minute with a goal of its own. Gerardo Sales took a free kick and put it into the right side of the box, finding Cody Lofgren who tapped it in for his third goal of the year.
Bruinsma scored the game-winner in the opening minutes of the second frame, when a defender fell attempting to clear the ball, and Bruinsma drilled a laser past the keeper to score his fourth goal of the season.
The Leathernecks are now 4-0 when scoring the first goal of the game, and improve to 1-0-2 in home league matches.
Sophomore keeper Yves Dietrich made two saves to pick up the victory, while Oral Roberts goalie saved nine of 11 shots on goal in the losing effort.
Western Illinois outshot ORU 19-11, including an 11-4 advantage in shots on goal. Appel led the Leathernecks with five shots, three on goal.
Western Illinois will play host to Summit League foe Kansas City on Saturday (Nov. 3) at 1 p.m., a day before taking on nonconference opponent Belmont on Sunday (Nov. 4) at 1 p.m. for Senior Day.
The Leathernecks will likely need to defeat Kansas City on Saturday to reach The Summit League tournament.
