KALAMAZOO, Mich.- Western Michigan junior men's soccer players
Drew Shepherd and
Zach Bock, as well as undergrad student assistant coach
Nick Wysong will play for a United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League (PDL) championship this weekend with the Michigan Bucks.
The Bucks advanced to the trophy game after beating the Midland/Odessa (Texas) Sockers FC, 3-0, in a semifinal at the Ultimate Soccer Arenas in Pontiac, Mich., on July 31. Also the regular season champions and the top seed in the tournament, the Bucks will host the title game for the second time in three years next Saturday, Aug. 6, taking on the Calgary Foothills FC. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. Wysong also won the national championship with the Bucks in 2014.
The PDL is considered to be the top level of men's amateur soccer competition in the United States. Collegiate players can participate on these teams without effecting NCAA eligibility.
Coming off an unbelievable season in goal for Western Michigan in 2015, Shepherd has continued his fantastic play this summer for the Bucks, maintaining an 11-1 record. He has tallied nine shutouts and conceded only three goals all season long.
In the semifinal match against the Sockers, Shepherd stepped up big in the 38th minute, fending off a dangerous header off a corner kick. Keeping the clean sheet, Shepherd now has six consecutive shutouts leading into the title match next Saturday.
Shepherd was the Division I statistical champion for goals against average for the 2015 NCAA men's soccer season. He allowed just four goals against in 1101:24 minutes played for a .329 GAA. Shepherd also finished second among Division I keepers for save percentage (.879).
Shepherd, Wysong and Bock all were integral in helping Western Michigan put together one of its best seasons in school history last year. Both Shepherd and Wysong were named First Team All-Mid-American Conference, while Bock was a Second Team selection.
Wysong is in his first season as an undergraduate student coach with the Broncos after expiring his eligibility at the conclusion of last year. Bock started 17 games at center back last season, helping anchor a defense in front of Shepherd. The Broncos earned their first ever Top 25 national ranking and set a school record with 12 shutouts while posting 11 wins.
Western Michigan begins its fall with two preseason matches, traveling to Loyola-Chicago on Aug. 13 and hosting DePaul in an exhibition on August 21. The 2016 season officially gets underway with a pair of road games as the Broncos take on Marshall Aug. 26 and Dayton Aug. 28.
