KALAMAZOO, Mich.- Brittney Pavlica's goal in the 33rd minute was the only goal WMU needed, as the Broncos knocked off defending MAC champion Central Michigan, also handing the Chippewas their first conference loss of 2011.
The attack started after Kalamazoo and Hackett High School native Megan Putnam was taken down by a hard foul in front of the Bronco bench. With the wind at her back, senior Caitlin Henderson sent a booming free kick down to the opposition's 18-yard box. CMU won the challenge in the air, but the ball got flicked backward, allowing Pavlica to break onto it. On the second bounce, Pavlica calmy chipped her shot over the head of outrushing goalkeeper Stefanie Turner for her third goal of the season.
Western Michigan's defensive unit of Kelsey Baskins, Lauren Fearday, Stefana Ciraulo, Henderson and netminder Michelle Watson were able to keep a clean sheet for WMU's fifth shutout of the season. Watson was particularly impressive, making four saves despite getting banged up on a hard foul that resulted in a CMU yellow yard 16 minutes into the game.
The win was third-year head coach Suzie Grech's first over the Chippewas, who entered the game with an unblemished Mid-American Conference record and a No. 4 Great Lakes Region ranking. Grech's team narrowly lost last season in Mount Pleasant 1-0 and eventually fell to CMU in the MAC Championship game. Friday's victory improved WMU to 8-7-0 on the year and 4-3-0 in the conference, while the Chippewas slipped to 10-2-3, 4-1-2 MAC.
"I cannot be more proud of the girls today," said Grech. "It was not only a big win against our school's rival, but a big win against the defending MAC champion. I was especially impressed with our team defending. We withstood a tremendous amount of pressure at the end of the game and stayed composed. Kelsey Baskins and Michelle Watson both had fantastic games."
Watson made two saves in each half, including a kick save on a breakaway in the first. She also came up with a momentum-crushing diving save off a corner kick with 10 minutes remaining.
Pavlica and Anina Cicerone led WMU with two shots each. Pavlica placed a brilliant shot on frame 10 minutes before scoring the game-winner, firing a ball from long range that Turner had to punch out over the net.
The season winding down, Western Michigan hosts Eastern Michigan in the Broncos' final home game of 2011 Sunday at 1 p.m., and will honor their senior class prior to kickoff. WMU then closes out the regular season with MAC road games at Bowling Green, Miami and Northern Illinois.
