West Central Reporter

Western Illinois University (WIU) is set to open its Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) season against Lindenwood at Hunter Stadium in St. Charles, Missouri, on Sunday, September 22, at 1 PM.

Lindenwood enters the match with a 4-4 record in non-conference play for 2024, having secured victories over Belmont, IU Indy, Austin Peay State, and Southern Illinois. Last year, WIU defeated Lindenwood 2-1 on Senior Day in Macomb. This season, Lindenwood aims to improve its standing within the conference with notable contributions from freshmen Tasneem Dizdarevic and Mackenzie Compton.

WIU approaches the matchup with a 0-7 record after recent losses to St. Thomas and Drake. Alexis Betker scored in the Leathernecks' 2-1 loss to Drake last weekend. As they enter conference play, WIU seeks to secure essential points early in the season.

The Leathernecks return 23 players from their 2023 squad. Among them is Isabel Navas Rodriguez, a fifth-year goalkeeper from Madrid who was named OVC Goalkeeper of the Week three times last season. Sydnee Sagal returns as a fifth-year midfielder after starting all matches in 2023. Junior outside back Hana Daoudi also returns after ranking third among outfield players in minutes last season. Alanna Pennington looks to build on her freshman campaign where she started all matches and led the team with three goals.

Senior attacker/midfielder Kayla Turner has been highlighted as Western Illinois' Player to Watch this season. Turner started 16 games as a freshman and has shown resilience by returning strong after missing most of her sophomore year due to injury.

Despite returning many players from last year's team, WIU has added seven newcomers for the 2024 season under Coach Josee Primeau's guidance. The new additions include junior transfer forwards Callie McMurtrey from Jefferson College, Autumn Wilson from Cody, Wyoming who scored 16 goals last season, and Landry McCoid who netted an impressive 35 goals at Iowa Central CC in ICCAC competition last year. Freshmen joining this year's team are goalkeeper Ariel Bernard, outside back Hilary Halpin, defensive midfielder Aofie Boulter, and midfielder Ava Bell.