CHICAGO - The Western Illinois soccer team battled Big Ten opponent Wisconsin to a 0-0 tie in the opening game of the second annual Chicago South Loop Hotel UIC Soccer Classic on Friday night at Flames Field.
With their first tie of the season, the Fighting Leathernecks move to 2-3-1, while the Badgers are now 1-3-2.
"I think we improved; it looked like we knew what we were doing and we created some chances. We didn't give up any soft goals like we did last weekend, so I'm pretty pleased with our effort," head coach Dr. Eric Johnson said.
Sophomore keeper Yves Dietrich saved all four shots he faced to earn his second career shutout.
While neither team had great chances during regulation, each team had opportunities to score in the overtime period.
Early in the first overtime, Wisconsin's Anders Kristensen headed a corner kick towards the net, but Dietrich made a full extension diving stop to keep Western Illinois in the game.
In the second overtime period, senior Nathan Bruinsma headed a corner kick to freshman Austin Gochneaur who headed it towards the goal, but a Badger defender made a lunging save as keeper Chase Rau was at the other end of the net.
Rau, like Dietrich, saved all four shots on goal he faced.
The statistical categories were nearly identical, with the Leathernecks tallying 12 shots, four shots on goal and seven corner kicks compared to 13 shots, four shots on goal and six corners for Wisconsin.
Freshman Erick Bloom and junior Charlie Bales were well involved with the offense, recording four and three shots, respectively.
"[Ending up with] a tie on the road, we'll take it," Johnson added. "Wisconsin made us run and defensively we had to work, which was good."
Western Illinois will play its final game in the UIC Soccer Classic against host UIC on Sunday at 2 p.m. before opening conference play against Omaha next week.
