Men's Soccer | January 19, 2018

PHILADELPHIA- Western Michigan senior Brandon Bye was drafted as the No. 8 overall pick by the New England Revolution in the 2018 Major League Soccer (MLS) Draft. Bye's draft stock rose considerably over the past week after an impressive showing at the MLS Combine, where he worked out primarily as a defender. 

Bye is the second player ever taken from Western Michigan in the MLS Draft. Goalkeeper Eric Pogue was selected 53rd overall by New England in 2001. 

Bye is coming off the most decorated season in WMU history. He was a Hermann Trophy semifinalist, the 2017 Mid-American Conference Player of the Year and named a First Team All-American by the United Soccer Coaches and CollegeSoccerNews. Bye was also honored as the National Scholar Player of the Year by the United Soccer Coaches and was an Academic All-American. 

Bye led the MAC with 12 goals and 31 points which also ranked among leaders nationally. His six game-winning goals were seventh most in Division I this season and he set a WMU record with 91 shots. For his career he was a three-time All-MAC selection and totaled 22 goals and 19 assists. 

Western Michigan won its first ever MAC regular season championship in 2017 and advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament after defeating UAlbany in the second round. The Broncos (17-4-1 overall record) finished the season ranked No. 9 in the country and were ranked in the top 25 for 11 consecutive weeks. WMU peaked at a No. 4 ranking. 

A Kalamazoo native, Bye played his prep career at Portage Northern High School and is the son of Bill and Denise Bye. He maintains a 3.74 GPA with a double major in food & consumer packaging goods and marketing & supply chain management.