KALAMAZOO --  Anina Cicerone netted two goals and Stephanie Skowneski added a goal and two assists as the Western Michigan women's soccer team opened up Mid-American Conference play with a commanding 3-1 win over Ball State on a rainy Friday afternoon at the WMU Soccer Complex.

The Broncos (5-4-0, 1-0-0 MAC) were in control early as Cicerone's first came in the 16th minute mark. Skowneski had the ball on the right side of the box and fired a shot from eight yards out. Ball State goalkeeper Aubrey Buehler made the initial save but Cicerone cleaned up the rebound for her fourth goal of the season.

Just two minutes later in the 18th minute Cicerone and Skowneski hooked up again. After a long punt by WMU keeper Michelle Watson fell to the feet of Skowneski, the reigning MAC Offensive Player of the year took the ball down the right side and placed a perfect cross in the box. Cicerone rose above the Cardinal defense and headed home her fifth for her second multi-goal game of the season and of her career to give WMU a 2-0 lead. The goal also tied a career best for Cicerone for goals in a season that she set last year when she tallied five goals to go along with three assists. The assist was Skowneski's fifth of the year, setting a new career high and surpassing the mark of four that helped her to last year's player of the year award.

The Broncos gave one back in the 41st when Kelsey Baskins was judged to have taken down a Cardinal player in the box and Pavla Benyrova slotted the penalty kick into the left side of the net.

The rain picked up in the second half and slowed down the steady pace the Broncos were playing at but it couldn't keep them from adding another. Sophomore and Kalamazoo native Megan Putnam flicked a ball on that the Buehler misplayed and Skowneski dibbled around her to slot home her fifth of the season and give WMU a 3-1 lead. The goal was the 22nd of Skowneski's career and now places her just one shy of trying the school record of 23 set by former Bronco great Katie Markey.

Watson made three saves on the day to help the Broncos improve to 9-4-4 at home under head coach Suzie Grech.

The Broncos continue MAC play on Sunday when they host preseason MAC favorites Toledo at 1 p.m.