Women's Soccer | September 21, 2016
KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan women's soccer team opens Mid-American Conference play this weekend, hosting Eastern Michigan on Friday at 4 p.m. and Central Michigan on Sunday at 1 p.m. Sunday's game will be streamed live for free at wmubroncos.com.
BRONCOS AT A GLANCE // 6-2-0, 0-0-0 MAC
Western Michigan went 6-2-0 during its non-conference schedule with the only losses coming at No. 12 Notre Dame and against a very tough DePaul team last Friday. In its six wins, WMU recorded three shutouts and only allowed four goals. The Broncos also have experience in tight games, winning two in overtime and a 1-0 win at Oakland.
Offensively, Western Michigan has taken a scoring by committee approach. Nine different players have tallied goals this season, led by senior Mackenzie Barber and her team-best three tallies. Kendall Juhnke and Candice Uhl each have scored twice so far this season.
EAGLES AT A GLANCE // 2-4-2, 0-0-0 MAC
Eastern Michigan enters MAC play with a 2-4-2 record. The Eagles had a difficult non-conference schedule, highlighted by losses to Iowa, No. 17 Minnesota and Missouri Valley Conference power Illinois State. EMU does boast wins over Green Bay and Ohio State.
Ellie Tillar has scored three of the team's seven goals this season, while starting in all eight games. Four different Eagles have scored the other four goals, including Michelle Rollins and Sabrina McNeil, who each have an assist to go with their goals. Rachel Washburn leads the team with two assists. Kaylin Williams has started and played every minute between the sticks for Eastern Michigan, making 30 saves and posting two shutouts.
CHIPPEWAS AT A GLANCE // 8-0-0, 0-0-0 MAC
Central Michigan enters MAC play with a perfect 8-0-0 record. CMU has only allowed four goals during the season and heads to Northern Illinois on Friday night before the showdown at the WMU Soccer Complex on Sunday.
The Chippewas have scored a MAC-best 17 goals, led by Alexis Pelfas and her nine goals on the season. Taylor Potts and Jamie Rademacher each have two goals, while Rademacher has a team-best three assists. Kristen Knutson has started all eight games in goal, allowing just three goals and making 27 saves. Knutson also has a MAC-best four shutouts.
THE FARM, THE FORTRESS
During the past three seasons Western Michigan has turned the WMU Soccer Complex, affectionately known as The Farm, into a fortress. The Broncos posted a 20-4-5 record at home during that time. In MAC play WMU went 11-4-2, holding opponents to 0.70 goals per game.
LIVE STREAMING
Western Michigan will have three home games streamed on wmubroncos.com for free during MAC play. Sunday's game against Central Michigan will debut the stream, while the Oct. 9 game against Miami and Oct. 16 game against Akron will also be streamed live for free.
ON THE HORIZON
Western Michigan gets its first taste of MACtion on the road, heading to Ohio and Kent State next weekend. The Broncos are home next on Sunday, Oct. 9 in a rematch of the 2015 MAC Tournament Championship game against Miami at 1 p.m.
