On Sunday Western Illinois secured its second victory of the season while Lindenwood and Eastern Illinois had matches finish in 1-1 draws, and SIUE came up one goal short at Michigan.
 

SUNDAY'S SCORES
Lindenwood 1, @Wright State 1	Box Score
@Eastern Illinois 1, St. Thomas 1	Box Score
@Michigan 3, SIUE 2	Box Score
@Western Illinois 4, Illinois Springfield 0	Box Score

LINDENWOOD 1, WRIGHT STATE 1
DAYTON, Ohio - The Lindenwood Men's Soccer team (2-1-1) tied with Wright State (1-2-1) on Sunday afternoon by a score of 1-1.

The Raiders tested Quinn Closson early on, recording shots on goal in the 12th and 29th minutes, but Closson was able to keep Wright State off the scoreboard by making two first-half saves to keep the game tied at zero. With less than four minutes to go in the first half, Luca Bartoni scored his team-leading fourth goal of the season off an assist from Philip Viberg Rasmussen to give the Lions the lead at the break. Both sides had four shots and three corner kicks in the opening half of play, but the goal by Bartoni was the difference in the first half.

In the second half, Wright State evened the score at one in the 54th minute after earning back-to-back corner kicks, eventually capitalizing on their second corner kick on a goal scored by the Raiders' Edoardo De Filippis. Later in the half, Gabriel Tonks took a low center shot in the 67th minute, but the Wright State Goalkeeper was able to get a hand on it to keep the game tied at one. A few minutes later, WSU had an opportunity to score, but Closson turned away the Raider shot in the 69th minute to pick up his first save of the second half and third save of the contest overall.

The 54th minute goal would be the only goal scored in the second half as the game would result in a 1-1 tie. Wright State outshot the Lions 7-5 in the last 45 minutes of play, but the Black and Gold would hang on for the draw.

Lindenwood took nine shots in the contest, with Omar Sanderson leading the offense with two shots. Additionally, Gabriel Tonks, Luca Bartoni, and Philip Viberg Rasmussen each had a shot on goal.


EASTERN ILLINOIS 1, ST. THOMAS 1
CHARLESTON, Ill. - Eastern Illinois men's soccer battled St. Thomas to a 1-1 draw Sunday afternoon at Lakeside Field as the Panthers closed out their season-opening homestand weekend with a tie against the Tommies. 

Eastern Illinois moved to 0-2-1 on the season, while St. Thomas improved to 1-1-2. 

The Panthers struck first in the 29th minute when Adam Boykin scored his first goal of the season. Boykin put EIU ahead after receiving an assist from Santiago Montoya, giving the Panthers a 1-0 advantage heading into halftime. 

Eastern Illinois held the lead through the opening stages of the second half, but St. Thomas eventually found the equalizer in the 77th minute. Eliot Beaumale scored an unassisted goal at the 76:19 mark to even the match at 1-1. 

Neither team was able to find a game-winning goal during the final 14 minutes as the Panthers and Tommies settled for the draw. 

Eastern Illinois finished with a 14-12 advantage in shots, including an 11-7 edge in the second half. The Panthers put three shots on frame, matching St. Thomas' total of three shots on goal. 

Sergej Misic led the Panthers with six shots, while Keidin Green and Marcos Ayelo each added two. Boykin recorded one shot on goal and converted the Panthers' lone goal. 

Goalkeeper Samuel Toruno made two saves in 90 minutes of action for EIU. St. Thomas goalkeeper Damian Climent also recorded two saves. 


MICHIGAN 3, SIUE 2
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Michigan picked up a late goal to slip past SIUE men's soccer 3-2 Sunday afternoon.

The Cougars fell to 0-3 to start the season. Michigan improved to 2-0-1.

SIUE took a 1-0 lead into halftime after controlling much of the play in the half. The lone goal of the period came thanks to a free kick in the 43rd minute. Elliott Forestier took the kick and his low shot was saved by Michigan goalkeeper Alen Bean. Robbie Spain pounced on the rebound in the six-yard box for his first goal as a Cougar.

The Cougars had back-to-back chances denied in the 12th minute when Colin Bastianoni had a shot from distance saved by Bean. Ryley Gibbs took a swing at the rebound, and his shot was blocked out of play. Grant Locker then had consecutive attempts blocked away in the 36th minute. The last one went out for an SIUE corner kick.

Michigan game out of halftime firing and forced SIUE goalkeeper Ioannis Koupepides into saves in the 48th and the 50th minutes. Alex Gimple banged a shot off the post in the 54th minute.

The Wolverines finally cashed in the 57th minute. Nico Pendleton headed home to even the score at 1-1. Michigan pushed on top when Grayson Elmquist converted on a penalty in the 63rd minute.

Bastianoni tied the score for the Cougars in the 66th after he headed home from a cross from Mathias Clausen.  

Elmquist scored Michigan's game-winner in the 84th which came off a right-side attack. A through ball send Elmquist into the box and he finished far post.  

SIUE finished with a season-best 13 shots and five on goal. The Wolverines outshot the Cougars 18-13 for the game.

Koupepides made his second consecutive start and finished with three saves.


WESTERN ILLINOIS 4, ILLINOIS-SPRINGFIELD 0
MACOMB, Ill. - Western Illinois men's soccer scored four unanswered goals to defeat Illinois Springfield 4-0 on Sunday, earning a convincing road victory.

Nathan Bessinger opened the scoring in the 10th minute, finding the back of the net off assists from Marco Presta and George Frost to give the Leathernecks a 1-0 advantage.

Western Illinois carried the lead into halftime before extending its advantage early in the second half. Ty Duax scored in the 56th minute, just moments after Illinois Springfield's Ajdin Sobo was shown a red card, putting the Leathernecks ahead 2-0.

George Frost added two late goals to complete the scoring. His first came in the 83rd minute, assisted by Alexis Beltran and Jack Schwering, before he found the net again in the final minute with Schwering providing the assist.

The assist marked the first collegiate assist for Beltran, who helped set up Frost's first goal of the afternoon.

Drew Heller started in goal for Western Illinois, making one save during the opening half. The start marked Heller's first collegiate start, and he recorded his first collegiate shutout as the Leathernecks held Illinois Springfield scoreless for the full 90 minutes.

The Leathernecks' defensive performance came after a 3-1 loss to DePaul on Thursday. Following the defeat, the team focused on correcting mistakes and tightening up defensively.

Western Illinois created several chances throughout the second half, including shots from Jason Hufnagle and Rashidi Ishibwiami shortly after halftime.

Frost finished with two goals, accounting for half of Western Illinois' four-goal offensive output, while the Leathernecks earned their first shutout of the season.