Men’s Soccer Suits Up for Home Finale Against Elmhurst

Home record sits at 3-2-1

10/18/2022 1:00:00 PM

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - Entering the final week of the 2022 regular season and with a College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin playoff bid on the line, the Illinois Wesleyan University men's soccer team will host Elmhurst University for a midweek showdown, Wednesday, Oct. 19. The crucial CCIW contest is scheduled for 7 p.m., under the lights, at Neis Field in Bloomington.

Coming into Wednesday's duel, the Titans sport a record of 5-7-2 (2-4 CCIW), while their counterparts, the Bluejays, own a clip of 7-5-2 (3-2-1 CCIW). Within the CCIW standings, the top-six conference records earn a bid in the CCIW tournament. IWU is currently tied for the final playoff position with Carroll, while Elmhurst sits in fifth place, just ahead of Illinois Wesleyan and Carroll.

Wednesday's game will mark the 18th all-time meeting. The Titans lead the series, 9-7-3. IWU has either won or drawn the previous six matchups and the team is currently riding a two-game win streak. The Green and White last took down the Bluejays Oct. 20 of last year thanks to three first-half goals. EU's last victory against Illinois Wesleyan came on Oct. 24, 2015.

IWU last competed Saturday, Oct. 15 against sixth-ranked North Park University. A Viking goal in the 26th minute proved to be a game-winning one as NPU earned a 1-0 victory. The Titans defense kept the potent Viking attack at bay, only surrendering 15 shots (six of frame). However, the Green and White outshot North Park, accumulating 16 shots (two on net) and earned more corner chances (9-4).

On the flip side, Elmhurst also last took to the pitch Saturday, Oct. 15 against the Big Blue from Millikin University. A Bluejay goal in the 32nd minute pushed EU to a 1-0 victory over Millikin. Elmhurst tallied 14 shots, while MU accumulated 10.

For conference statistics only, Illinois Wesleyan has notched 74 shots, which is good for sixth-best in the CCIW. Additionally, IWU is averaging 1.333 goals per contest, while its opponents are averaging 1.83 goals.

On the season, junior Gavin Smith (Seattle, Wash.-Eastside Preparatory School) leads the team with 11 points, 24 shots, and 12 shots on goal. Junior Sasha Tylnyy (Wheeling, Ill.-Buffalo Grove) is second on the team with eight points and eleven shots on goal. Both Smith and Tylnyy are tied with the team lead with four goals.

Freshman Sam Kedzior (Cary, Ill.-Cary Grove) has earned seven consecutive starts for the Green and White in between the posts. The Cary Grove, Ill. leads all IWU goalkeepers with 630 minutes played and 35 saves. He holds a 0.745 save percentage with a 1.71 goals against average.

Live stats and a live video will both be available for the match. Live stats can be found here, while the live video feed can be viewed here.

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