Women's Soccer | August 18, 2016
KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- A strong midfield has had a big hand in the success of the Western Michigan women's soccer teams over the past several seasons. Names like Nikolette Rivera, Nicole Dulyea, Anina Cicerone and Rachel Chaney have been mainstays in the All-Mid-American Conference teams since 2009.
Most recently it was Kylie Nylen. The holding midfielder was named All-MAC three times before graduating in 2015. Senior captain Liz Abro will lead the midfield in Western Michigan's home-opener against Fort Wayne on Friday at 4 p.m., but plays more of an attacking role that Nylen did. In WMU's exhibition game against IUPUI junior Kendall Juhnke and sophomore Alyssa Burke also started in the midfield. Juhnke, who played last season in a substitute role, filled the holding-midfield spot vacated by Nylen's graduation.
"Kendall really found herself this past spring," said head coach Lauren Sinacola. "She's really solid in the air, breaking up play and she has a great range of pass. She's also very technical going forward."
Burke worked her way into the starting lineup last season after coming to WMU recovering from a knee injury. Sinacola described Burke and fellow sophomore Alexis Shamoun as two of the most technical midfielders that the Broncos have.
"Once they have the ball, it's very hard to get it away from them," added Sinacola.
Freshmen Jane Labadie, Lydia Bajema and Roselyn Kyeame also add depth to the talented midfield group.
