Women's Soccer | August 17, 2016

KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- Two Mid-American Conference Tournament Championships in three seasons and three-straight trips to the MAC Tournament Finals have set a high bar for the Western Michigan women's soccer team, which begins the 2016 season hosting Fort Wayne on Friday at 4 p.m. at the WMU Soccer Complex.

A big reason for that success has been its extremely stingy defense. In the past three seasons the Broncos have shutout opponents 36 times, 12 in each season. Consistency in goal and among the back line have been keys to WMU's defensive success but two members, three-time All-MAC selection Lindsey Lee and 2015 All-MAC selection Lacey Zahn have graduated. Both saw significant playing time in their four-year careers.

"It's always a concern when you graduate seniors that were so impactful," said first-year head coach Lauren Sinacola. "Something that has been great over the past three years since I've been around as an assistant we have always done a very good job giving players experience on the field and using our depth to our advantage. So when you do graduate those impactful players, we have ones with lots of experience coming in and helping the team."

In WMU's exhibition game at IUPUI the Broncos started a back line of Alyssa Smith, Maria Jaramillo, Megan Ross and Tiffany Buckler. Ross, a senior, has started at center back or right back for the majority of her career at WMU. Behind the group is redshirt junior Stephanie Heber in goal. Heber, whose accolades include a Third-Team Great Lakes All-District selection, has been between the sticks for 18 of the 24 shutouts over the past two seasons. In the past two seasons, which Heber has started the majority of the games, the Bronco defense has held opponents to just 0.68 goals per game in each season.  Heber is backed up by veteran Makenzie Larson and sophomore Savannah Rembold. Larson, along with Jaramillo, Liz Abro and Mackenzie Barber were recently elected captains.

Western Michigan boasts depth along the back line with senior Jewell Edwards, junior Alyssa Smith, and sophomores Paige Dobbs and Annie Selk. Smith played in every game last season, starting in 18, at outside back and also showed the ability to get forward in attack, tallying four assists.

"When you lose a veteran crew like we did it challenges those underclassmen to step it up," Sinacola added. "It's been great to see last year's freshmen, sophomores, and juniors step into their own, take control, and lead."

Check to WMUBroncos.com on Thursday for a preview of the Bronco midfield.