By JOSHUA CHARLES

Contributing Reporter

The Oakland University men’s soccer team returned home for the first time since Sept. 5 looking to rebound from a surprise loss to Michigan last Wednesday.

The Golden Grizzlies did just that, defeating Summit League rival Western Illinois 1-0 in the conference play opener Saturday night at the Ultimate Soccer Arena in Pontiac.

“The Michigan game is gone,” head coach Gary Parsons said. “This one was the conference opener, we had to put that other game away.”

Junior forward Sebastian Harris scored his fourth goal of the season with 8:39 left in the first

half to put the Golden Grizzlies on top.

“Just the right place at the right time,” Harris said after the game. “I tried to place it, control it, and get something on it. Then it was about the celebration.”

The Golden Grizzlies peppered WIU’s goaltender with 11 shots in the first half and then eight more in the second.

Despite having a wide shot advantage, the Grizzlies played on their heels for most of the second half, narrowly holding on to their 1-0 lead.

Goalkeeper Steve Clark only had two saves for the game, both coming in the second half in the face of pressure from the Leathernecks.

OU improved its record to 7-2-0 on the season, as they picked up their first conference win in front of an OU men’s soccer record crowd of 1,105.

“I love the atmosphere,” Parsons said. “I knew we would be able to get people out of the soccer community out to support our team.”