West Central Reporter

Western Illinois Kicks Off 2024 Season with Grand Canyon, Butler Matchups

Where | GCU Stadium - Phoenix, Ariz. / Bud and Jackie Sellick Bowl - Indianapolis, Ind.

When | Thursday, August 22, 9 PM @ Grand Canyon StreamLive Stats Sunday, August 25, 5 PM @ Butler Live Stats (All times central)

About the Antelopes:

Grand Canyon finished 7-7-3 overall in 2023, with a 2-4-2 record in the WAC, finishing seventh. In the recently released preseason poll, Grand Canyon was slated to finish sixth in the ten-team conference. Junior forward Bright Nutornutsi was named a preseason All-Conference player, the 'Lopes' only representative on the 11-man squad. Nutornutsi scored nine goals in 2023, a team-high.

A Bout with the Bulldogs:

The Butler Bulldogs went 2-7-6 in 2023, finishing 1-3-4 in Big East play, good for fourth in the Midwest division. In the 2024 Big East preseason poll, the Bulldogs were voted to finish fourth again in the Midwest division. Butler retains their top-three minutes leaders from last season, including Palmer Ault, who scored six goals in his 2023 campaign and was named the conference's Preseason Offensive Player of the Year.

Key Returners:

Western Illinois brings back 14 players from its 2023 squad. Going into his third year with the Leathernecks, midfielder Oscar Olingdahl looks to have a big season as he's started 25 games in his Leatherneck career. After a stellar freshman season where he started all 17 matches, Joel McIntyre will be a key factor for the 2024 side. Another defender, Gabe Chapa also started all matches last season and ranked second on the team in minutes played in 2023. An attacker Xavier Gagnon also started all matches last season and scored on two occasions while leading all freshmen in minutes.

Player to Watch:

Jimmy Baars was named an OVC Player to Watch in last Thursday's preseason poll. A senior midfielder Baars is in his second year with the Leathernecks. A native of Kudelstaart Netherlands Baars started seven of his fourteen appearances totaling five hundred ninety minutes on the year He finished his twenty-twenty-three campaign with nine shot attempts and four on goal.

Fresh Faces:

Dr Eric Johnson and company refreshed twenty-twenty-four squad new exciting talent as he brings fourteen newcomers this team Goalkeeper Micah Ramirez transfers Temple made twenty-two saves five appearances Joining him junior transfers are midfielder Dayton Strattman St Charles Community College defender Gabriel Velasco Irvine Valley College Highlighting newcomers eleven freshmen Of freshmen five defenders Ryan Wrobleski Benjamin Graham Leevi Swearengen August Jacus Fernando Adrados Castro Five more freshmen attacking players Henrry Abarca-Gonzalez Bruce Harris Will Knight Tyler Philpott Ty Duax join squad Another newcomer Alexis Michaud only freshman keeper squad

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