Women's Soccer | August 19, 2016

KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- The Western Michigan women's soccer team graduated great players in every position from its 2015 Mid-American Conference Tournament Championship team, but despite losing Second Team All-MAC selections Gina Maddi and Irene Young, the WMU attackers may be the deepest group on the 2016 squad.

That attack will be on display on Friday at 4 p.m. when the Broncos host Fort Wayne to kick off the 2016 regular season at the WMU Soccer Complex and it will be led by junior winger Emma Kahn. Kahn is the top returning goal-scorer from last season, having led the way with 12 goals. The Mount Pleasant, Mich., native also led the team with four game-winning goals. While Maddi and Young combined to score 11 goals and six assists, head coach Lauren Sinacola has surrounded Kahn with talent in the attack.

Returning from last season are seniors Mackenzie Barber and Olivia Vollmers, junior Candice Uhl, and sophomore Alex Ruffer. In WMU's 2-2 exhibition draw at IUPUI Sinacola started Ruffer at center forward, flanked by Kahn on the left and Barber on the right. Vollmers played in all 22 games last season and was usually WMU's first attacker off the bench. The Dexter, Mich., native always provided the spark the team needed, scoring three goals and five assists. Vollmers' hold-up play also helped the Broncos sustain their attack.

Uhl started in 20 games last season and provided excellent service from the right wing, finishing the season with a career-best four assists to go along with two goals.

Ruffer enters her junior season after a breakout sophomore year in which she played in a career-best 21 games. The Lombard, Ill., native slid into the starting lineup after non-conference play and helped bolster the Bronco attack, finishing the season with two goals and two assists. Both of her goals ended up being game winners.

Adding depth to the forward group are freshmen Roselyn Kyeamae, Victoria McCartney, Hannah Kahn and Erin Madigan.