CLEVELAND, Ohio- Western Michigan senior midfielder Brandon Bye has been named the Mid-American Conference Player of the Year. He becomes the first player ever from Western Michigan to earn the award. Bye also earned First Team All-MAC honors for the second time in his career.

Bye leads the MAC in goals (12), game-winning goals (5), points (29) and shots (77). Bye's goal total ranks 14th most in the nation.

Bye ranks in the top 10 at WMU for career goals, career points, single-season goals and single-season points. He has tied the school record with 77 shots this season and is three shots shy of breaking the career record. He is also tied for second in school history with eight game-wining goals.

"Throughout the history of WMU soccer we have seen some very talented players wear the Brown and Gold, for Brandon to be the first Bronco to ever win MAC Player of the Year tells you just how talented he is," said WMU head coach Chad Wiseman. "He is the most explosive soccer player I have ever coached. 

"Brandon has worked extremely hard to become the player he is today. After coming to WMU under the radar, relatively unknown, he will leave the program as the MAC Player of the Year."

As a sophomore Bye was named Second Team All-MAC and last season he earned First Team All-MAC and Second Team All-Region honors.

Western Michigan won its first ever MAC regular season championship with an undefeated 5-0-0 conference record. The Broncos (15-2-1 overall) also set a program record for most wins in a season and tied the school record with 12 shutouts.

WMU is currently ranked No. 4 in the nation, highest ever in school history and has been ranked for nine consecutive weeks, spending five of those in the top 10.

As the regular season MAC champion, Western Michigan also has rights to the No.1 seed in the MAC Tournament, which the Broncos will host, Nov. 10 & 12.