KALAMAZOO, Mich.- Western Michigan junior defender Ben Thornton has been named to the TopDrawerSoccer National Team of the Week.
 
The No. 5 ranked Western Michigan men's soccer team defeated SIU-Edwardsville 1-0 to secure the program's first ever regular season Mid-American Conference Championship. Thornton scored the game-winning goal in the first half.
 
Western Michigan's record improves to 14-2-1 overall on the season and 4-0-0 in the MAC. The victory gives the Broncos the No. 1 seed in the MAC Tournament and the right to host conference postseason play, Nov. 10 & 12.
 
Thornton's game-winning goal came in the 24th minute off a corner kick. Redshirt junior Tommy Clark sent a perfect ball into the box to find Thornton who headed the ball into the back of the net. It was Thornton's third goal of the season.
 
Thornton is the fifth Bronco to be named to TopDrawerSoccer National Team of the Week this season, joining junior midfielder Kosti Moni, redshirt junior goalkeeper Elijah Michaels, senior midfielder Brandon Bye and senior forward Jay McIntosh.
 
WMU closes out its regular season schedule with Senior Day on Saturday, Nov. 4 at 1 p.m. against Bowling Green at the WMU Soccer Complex.