Men's Soccer | November 13, 2017

KALAMAZOO, Mich.- The Western Michigan men's soccer team has received a top 16 seed as an at-large bid to this year's NCAA Tournament. Picked as the No. 10 seed overall, the Broncos receive a first round bye and will host a second round NCAA Tournament game.

The Broncos gathered at the University Roadhouse to watch the NCAA Selection Show and learn their fate Monday afternoon. Western Michigan will face the winner of the Nov. 16 first round game between Maryland and Albany on Sunday, Nov. 19 at 1 p.m. at the WMU Soccer Complex. It will mark the first time in school history the Broncos have hosted an NCAA Tournament game. It will be just the second ever appearance for WMU in the NCAA Tournament, and first since receiving an automatic bid after winning the Mid-American Conference Tournament in 2003.

"It's an unbelievable feeling and a well-deserved honor for a terrific regular season," said WMU head Chad Wiseman. "I couldn't be more proud of our group of guys for being recognized as one of the very best teams in the nation. Each year we have made steps as a program and now we are here. We're ready to go out there and see what we can do."

Western Michigan won its first ever MAC regular season championship this season and finished as MAC Tournament runner-up. Despite falling in the conference championship, Western Michigan's body of work during the season was beyond impressive, resulting in the at-large bid, also a first for WMU.

The Broncos enter the NCAA Tournament with a 16-3-1 overall record and finished the regular season ranked No. 4 in the nation in the United Soccer Coaches poll. The Broncos spent nine consecutive weeks ranked, including five in the top 10. Western Michigan produced a school-record eight all-conference selections, including five on the first team, the MAC Player of the Year in senior Brandon Bye and Wiseman was recognized as MAC Coach of the Year.

Two of WMU's three losses came to top 10 ranked teams who also fill out this year's NCAA Tournament field. WMU fell to No. 7 seed Michigan State in Kalamazoo on Oct. 4 and to No. 5 seed Akron in the MAC Tournament championship game this past weekend. The Broncos' first loss of the season was on Sept. 29 on the road at Portland.

Forty-eight teams comprise the NCAA Tournament bracket. Third round games are Nov. 25 & 26 followed by quarterfinals Dec. 1 & 2. The four-team 2017 College Cup finals will be played at Talen Energy Stadium in Chester, Pennsylvania on December 8 & 10.