MACOMB, ill. - Western Illinois University’s women’s soccer team (1-8-0) will face a pair of challenging matchups this week, hosting St. Thomas on Thursday, September 18th at 4:00 p.m., and traveling to Morehead State on Sunday, September 21st for a 1:00 p.m.contest. The Leathernecks are seeking to build momentum after a 2-0 season-opening victory against St. Ambrose, followed by eight consecutive losses, most recently against Purdue.
These games represent a crucial chance for western Illinois to improve its record and develop its young roster within the competitive landscape of Division I soccer. The team aims to translate defensive improvements and emerging offensive threats into positive results as they navigate a challenging non-conference schedule and prepare for conference play.
Defensively, the Leathernecks will rely on Daniela Gularte to anchor the back line and maintain a compact shape against both opponents. Goalkeeper Ariel Bernard’s workload will be a key factor, with strong defensive play intended to limit attacks and allow the team to settle into matches.
Freshman Abigail Schilling has emerged as a leading scoring threat, tied with Kayla Turner with two goals apiece. St.Thomas enters Thursday’s game with a 2-3-1 record, searching for their first road win (0-2-1 away). Morehead State, with a 2-7-0 record, will host the Leathernecks on Sunday, coming off a arduous nonconference schedule but demonstrating resilience in stretches of play.
Fans can follow the Leathernecks at GoLeathernecks.com,and on X (formerly twitter),Instagram,and Facebook for up-to-the-minute updates.
