MACOMB, Ill. –The Western Illinois men's soccer team picked up its second win of the season in a 3-1 victory over Central Arkansas, Sunday. Sept. 27.

The Fighting Leathernecks (2-5-0) notched their second win in their last three games while the Bears (2-6-1) dropped their fourth straight match of the season.

Western Illinois got off to a fast start, taking a 1-0 lead in the 5th minute when Nathan Bruinsma found Adam Rappin on the left side of the six yard box and Rappin drilled home a shot to give Western the lead.

The Leathernecks would strike again in the 17th minute when Oskar Gasecki took an inbound corner kick from Rappin and knocked in what proved to be the game winner.

"We've scored seven goals in our last three matches," Western Illinois head coach Dr. Eric Johnson said. "It's been a really positive sign that our offense is coming around. It's a team game and it was really important for us to get a lot of different guys some scoring chances."

Central Arkansas would close the gap to 2-1 when Taylor Hart took a pass from Chris Deaville following a Leatherneck foul and Hart hit a one-timer from just inside the six yard box to bring the Bears within one.

"We made a mistake on the restart there and gave up a bad goal," Johnson said. "That's happened to us a few times on restarts this season but the god thing for us was that we were able to respond with a goal off our own restart."

The score would remain 2-1 until Bruinsma took a pass from Kevin Hinds on a free kick and put in his first goal of the year in the 57th minute to give Western a 3-1 lead.

"That goal was the key today," Johnson said. "Up until that point it's a tight game at 2-1 and anything could have happened. The pass from Hinds was really good and Nathan capitalized on it."

"Bruinsma had a really nice game today. He isn't the fastest guy out there but he does his job and he does it very well.

The Leathernecks would hold Central Arkansas scoreless the rest of the way despite a flurry of shots from the Bears in the second half. Western Illinois goalkeeper Andrew Ryan made seven saves in the second half, including a game saving stop in the 52nd minute to preserve a 2-1 lead.

"Andy played really well out there today," Johnson said. "He made a really clutch save where he came out of nowhere and grabbed the ball while he as on the ground and that was a game-saver."

"He's worked really hard all throughout the season and when you do that you get rewarded with playing time and he made the most of it.

Central Arkansas outshot the Leathernecks by a 15-12 margin, including an 11-8 advantage in shots on goal. Western Illinois took five corners to Central's two and the Bears committed 18 fouls to Western's 11.

"Overall we had a very good effort out there today," Johnson said. "Coming home after so much time away was really good for us. It gave the guys a chance to get back in to their normal routine and get to spend time with their families."

The Leathernecks will open Summit League play on the road against UMKC at 7 p.m., Saturday, Oct.3. Western Illinois will return home for a match against Drake at 3 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 7.