West Central Reporter

The Western Illinois University men's soccer team will compete against Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) in the quarterfinals of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) Tournament. The match is scheduled for Sunday at 12 p.m. and will be hosted by Lindenwood University.

This game marks the third meeting between Western Illinois and SIUE this season, with Western Illinois having won both previous encounters. The Leathernecks are entering postseason play for the second consecutive year, reflecting ongoing progress under head coach Dr. Eric Johnson.

Western Illinois holds the No. 5 seed in the tournament, finishing the regular season with a 5-10-4 overall record and a 3-3-4 record in conference games. SIUE is seeded fourth, with a 5-10-2 overall record and a 4-4-2 mark in conference play.

The Leathernecks concluded their regular season with a win over top-seeded Lindenwood University, which provided momentum heading into the tournament.

Liam Gainley leads Western Illinois offensively as a Second Team All-OVC selection, scoring seven goals this season. Gainley and his teammates aim to maintain their strong performance against SIUE.

The OVC Men's Soccer Championship schedule includes:

Sunday, November 9

Match 1 - #4 SIUE vs. #5 Western Illinois, 12:00pm CT (ESPN+)

Match 2 - #3 Liberty vs. #6 Eastern Illinois, 3:00pm CT (ESPN+)

Wednesday, November 12

Match 3 - Winner Match 1 vs. #1 Lindenwood, 4:00pm CT (ESPN+)

Match 4 - Winner Match 2 vs. #2 HCU, 7:00pm CT (ESPN+)

Saturday, November 15

Match 5 - Semifinal Winners, 7:30pm CT (ESPN+)

Head coach Dr. Eric Johnson said that qualifying for the OVC Tournament for two straight years demonstrates "the team's continued growth and resilience."

For more information about Western Illinois men's soccer or updates on matches and results, visit GoLeathernecks.com or follow the team on social media platforms including X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook.