KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan women's soccer team began its Mid-American Conference Tournament Title defense on Sunday afternoon at the WMU Soccer Complex. The Broncos used an early goal in the conference quarterfinals to defeat Miami, 1-0, improving to 13-6-1.

Following the victory, Western Michigan will play in the MAC semifinals on Friday, Nov. 4, at Kent State. Following a Ball State loss to Northern Illinois, the No. 4 seed, Broncos, will face the No. 8 seed, Huskies of NIU, for the MAC semifinals. The time is still to be determined.

"In this tournament, so many things can happen," commented WMU head coach Lauren Sinacola. "We will begin to prepare for the semifinal against Northern Illinois."
Senior Candice Uhl scored the lone goal for the Broncos and has now scored in the last three of the four matches for Western Michigan. Seniors Liz Abro and Mackenzie Barbed dished out the double assist on the afternoon. Bronco goalkeeper Stephanie Heber was called upon to make two saves to help preserve the victory.
 
QUOTING SINACOLA:
"I am really happy with how the game started out," commented WMU head coach Lauren Sinacola. "The girls were ready to play and were rewarded for it with a great goal. Credit to Miami for continually pressuring us for the entire game. Our back line and Steph did an incredible job today getting the shutout."

How it Happened:
The Broncos started the pressure early, as the ball stayed on the attacking side of the field for Western Michigan. In the fourth minute, WMU had its first chance when a ball came sailing across the goal and senior forward Candice Uhl volleyed the ball back across the net. The ball went just wide.

In the seventh minute, as forward Mackenzie Barber placed a bending ball around the RedHawk defender. Midfielder Liz Abro took a touch across the end line sending the ball back into the six-yard box. Uhl was on the end of it and placed it to the upper left corner past the Miami goalkeeper Vic Maniaci. Uhl's game-winning goal was her fifth goal of the season.

Junior midfielder Kendall Juhnke delivered another goal-scoring opportunity for Western Michigan in the 20^th minute. Defender Maria Jaramillo sent a corner into the box as Juhnke connected her head on the ball. This time the ball went wide of the far post.

In the 23^rd minute, Barber had a chance to give the Broncos a two-goal lead but her header hit the post and went straight to a Miami defender who cleared it out of bounds.

Miami countered with a dangerous corner kick of its own in the 25^th minute as the ball went sailing just wide of the goal mouth.

The Broncos final chance to get on the board once again occurred in the 34^th minute. Abro sent a shot into the box as Maniaci made the save but was unable to hold onto the ball. Senior forward Olivia Vollmers connected with the rebound but the shot was deflected off a RedHawk defender and went out for a corner.

Western Michigan played stiff defense in the remaining 11 minutes as the Broncos took a 1-0 lead into halftime.

During the second, the Broncos found themselves attacking against the wind and their biggest opportunity happened in the 72^nd minute. Forward Emma Kahn received a cross from the left flank. The junior sent a ball blistering to the far post but this time Maniaci made a diving save to keep the Broncos off the board.

Neither team developed many goal-scoring chances after that as Western Michigan held onto the 1-0 lead taking the victory and moving onto the MAC semifinals.

Following the exciting victory, Western Michigan produced 14 shots placing five on frame compared to the RedHawks four shots and placing two on net. WMU held the 11-3 advantage in corner kicks during the afternoon. Goalkeeper Stephanie Heber was called upon to make two saves to help with the win as the redshirt junior is now 12-3-0 this season and has six shutouts.