West Central Reporter

Western Illinois University is set to host two pivotal soccer matches at John MacKenzie Alumni Field in Macomb, Illinois. The first match will see Western Illinois face off against Incarnate Word on Thursday, October 31, at 3 PM. This will be followed by a clash with Houston Christian on Saturday, November 3, at 1 PM.

Incarnate Word began the season with a challenging start but has recently turned its fortunes around. The team remains unbeaten in their last six matches and currently holds fifth place in the conference standings with ten points. "Unbeaten in their last six, Incarnate Word has picked up four straight draws," the release notes.

Houston Christian stands as one of the top teams in the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC), sitting second with 17 points. They are also unbeaten in their last five games and have previously defeated Western Illinois this season.

Western Illinois finds itself sixth in the OVC standings and is seeking qualification for the conference tournament. Their home record has been strong throughout the season, which they hope to leverage in these final matches.

The upcoming game against Houston Christian will also serve as Senior Day for Western Illinois players Youssou Ouendeno and Jimmy Baars. Ouendeno has been a key goalkeeper for WIU while Baars contributed significantly as a midfielder over his two seasons with the team.

Sophomore defender Joel McIntyre continues to impress this season and was named Ohio Valley Conference's Defensive Player of the Week three times so far. His defensive prowess helped secure crucial victories for Western Illinois.

In an earlier achievement this season, Western Illinois players swept weekly awards following a commanding win over Northern Illinois on September 24. Alexis Michaud was recognized as Goalkeeper of the Week; Joel McIntyre earned Co-Defensive Player of the Week honors; and Jimmy Baars was named Offensive Player of the Week after scoring twice during that period.

For further updates on Leatherneck Men's Soccer, fans are encouraged to visit GoLeathernecks.com or follow them on social media platforms such as X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook.