West Central Reporter

Western Illinois University's soccer team is preparing for two upcoming matches this weekend. The Leathernecks, currently holding a 1-3-1 record, will face Green Bay on Thursday and Illinois State on Sunday.

The match against Green Bay will take place at John MacKenzie Alumni Field in Macomb, Illinois. Western Illinois has a historical record of 5-7 against Green Bay since their first encounter in 2000. In their most recent game last year, the Leathernecks were defeated 2-0 in Green Bay.

Illinois State will host the second match at Adelaide Street Field in Normal, Illinois. The Leathernecks have struggled against the Redbirds with a 1-4 record dating back to 2017. Last season's matchup resulted in a narrow 2-1 loss for Western Illinois.

Green Bay enters the contest with a 0-2-2 record this season. They suffered losses to Kansas State and Drake before drawing with DePaul and Stetson. Sophomore Siena Morgano has contributed significantly by assisting two of the team's three goals.

Illinois State holds a 0-3-1 record as they conclude their nonconference schedule this weekend. Their recent games include losses to Indiana, Butler, and North Dakota, along with a tie against Oakland. Freshman Katie O'Malley has been notable for scoring one goal and providing an assist within just over 200 minutes of play.

Western Illinois recently returned from a road trip where they lost narrowly to Loyola and were defeated by Milwaukee. Junior Sachiko Gamo remains the sole goal scorer for the Leathernecks so far this season. Senior goalkeeper Isabel Navas Rodriguez has earned recognition by winning two OVC Goalkeeper of the Week awards and achieving two clean sheets.

Following these weekend matches, Western Illinois will begin Ohio Valley Conference play with a home game against SEMO on September 21st.