West Central Reporter

Western Illinois University's soccer team faced a setback in their match against the Little Rock Trojans on Thursday. The game, which was crucial for Western's hopes of qualifying for the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) tournament, ended in a 1-0 defeat.

The Leathernecks demonstrated strong defensive play during the first half. Despite Little Rock's aggressive offense, which resulted in six corner kicks, Western's goalkeeper Isabel Navas Rodriguez managed to make four saves before halftime. Sachiko Gamo attempted a free kick from about 25 yards out with eight minutes remaining in the first half, but it was saved by the Trojan keeper.

In the second half, Western had an opportunity to take the lead with two corner kicks around the 50th minute. Gamo's corner nearly resulted in a goal as Little Rock’s goalkeeper Marie Cimatti mishandled the ball, but it was cleared by a defender. Emmy Ellington and Kayla Turner also had chances to score but were unsuccessful.

The decisive moment came in the 81st minute when Little Rock capitalized on a penalty. Western’s goalkeeper Rodriguez collided with Amaya Arias while attempting to clear a ball, resulting in a penalty that Arias converted into what would be the only goal of the match.

With this loss, Western remains outside of tournament qualification and will conclude their regular season against Lindenwood on Sunday. The match will also serve as an occasion to honor graduating seniors Audrey Narine, Maddie Hasken, and Malerie Rohweder.