West Central Reporter

Western Illinois University's men's soccer team is set to face the SIUE Cougars in a significant Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) match on Thursday night. The game will take place at Bob Guelker Field / Ralph Korte Stadium in Edwardsville, with kickoff scheduled for 6:00 p.m. CT.

The Leathernecks currently hold a record of 3-10-4 overall and 1-3-4 in OVC play, placing them sixth in the conference standings. They are aiming to secure a spot in the upcoming OVC Tournament. Their opponents, SIUE, have a 4-9-2 overall record and are 3-3-2 in conference games. A win for SIUE would guarantee their place in the tournament.

SIUE's recent five-match unbeaten streak ended last weekend after a 2-1 defeat against Liberty. Thursday's fixture is also SIUE's final home game of the regular season.

This meeting marks the 29th encounter between Western Illinois and SIUE since their first matchup in 1972. Of the previous 28 games, Western Illinois leads the series with a record of 15 wins, 10 losses, and three draws. Thirteen of those meetings have been played at neutral sites, more than at either team's home field. When hosting Western Illinois, SIUE has won six out of nine matches.

Senior forward Liam Gainey leads Western Illinois with six goals this season and remains an important part of their offense. Sophomore Benjamin Graham has scored three goals so far—ranking fifth among all players in the OVC—and two of his goals have come during conference matches. Senior goalkeeper Micah Ramirez is third in the OVC for saves this year, contributing leadership and stability on defense.

A victory would move Western Illinois to a 4-10-4 overall record and improve their conference standing to 2-3-4, keeping their postseason hopes alive.

For more information about Western Illinois men's soccer or updates during games, fans can visit GoLeathernecks.com or follow the team on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook.