KALAMAZOO, Mich.- Four Western Michigan men's soccer players were named All-Region by the United Soccer Coaches. Defender Zach Bock and midfielder Brandon Bye were named to the First Team, while goalkeeper Drew Shepherd collected Second Team honors and midfielder Tommy Clark was selected to the Third Team.

Bock and Bye become the first First Team All-Region honorees in Western Michigan history and will advance to the All-America ballot. All-American selections will be announced on the night of Thursday, Dec. 7th.

The four All-Region selections ties the most in a single season in school history, matching 2015. Bock, Bye and Shepherd become the first players to earn All-Region status in multiple years. Bock and Bye were Second Team recognitions last year while Shepherd landed a spot on the third team.

In addition to being named All-Region, Bock, Bye, Shepherd and Clark were all named First Team All-Mid-American Conference earlier this year. Bye was named WMU's first ever MAC Player of the Year.

Bock started every game this season at center back, anchoring a Bronco defense that posted a school-record 14 shutouts. The Broncos did not allow a goal during the MAC regular season, outscoring opponents over the five games, 9-0.

Bye is a semifinalist for the Hermann Trophy and was the MAC's leading scorer, totaling 12 goals and seven assists for 31 points. His five game-winning goals are sixth most in the nation, while he ranks fifth in shots per game (4.33) and shots on goal per game (2.10), 10th for total points and 17th in goals scored. Bye set a new WMU record with 91 shots, placing 44 on goal.

Shepherd had a 16-3-1 record in goal for the Broncos and was responsible for 13 of the 14 shutouts. He set a new WMU record for goalkeeper wins, single-season shutouts and career shutouts. His career 0.75 goals-against average will also go down as best in school history.

Clark was a key component on Bronco set pieces and corner kicks. He totaled eight assists and one goal, the game-winner in WMU's 1-0 win over Akron on Oct. 7.

In addition to the player recognitions, Western Michigan's coaching staff was named the Great Lakes Region Staff of the Year last week. The Bronco coaches are also on the ballot for National Staff of the Year.

Western Michigan had the program's most successful season in 2017, finishing with a 17-4-1 overall record and undefeated 5-0-0 Mid-American Conference record. The Broncos won their first ever MAC regular season championship and made an NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 appearance after garnering the No. 10 seed and defeating UAlbany in the second round for WMU's first ever NCAA Tournament win.

The Broncos were ranked in the top 25 the final 10 consecutive weeks of the season, spending six in the top 10, and reaching as high as No. 4. Head coach Chad Wiseman was named MAC Coach of the Year and a total of eight players, including five on the first team (and Bye as Player of the Year), were named All-MAC.