AKRON, Ohio- Senior Jason Grant scored for Western Michigan in the 31st minute and the Broncos held on to a 1-0 victory, upsetting No. 19 Akron on the road Saturday night. With the victory, WMU moved into first place in the Mid-American Conference standings with a 2-0-1 (8-4-3 overall) record.
“This was another massive result for our program,” said second-year Bronco head coach Chad Wiseman. “Not too many teams come into Akron and leave victorious, and tonight Western Michigan did. I could not be more proud of my team, what an absolute class performance tonight. They deserved it.”
Western Michigan's win was one of its finest in program history, as it was just the third ever against the Zips in 37 all-time meetings. The loss to WMU was just Akron's second MAC regular-season loss over the last eight seasons.
Western Michigan has given Akron a run for its money over the last few years, finishing runner-up to the Zips last year in the regular season and conference tournament. Akron has established itself as a perennial power in the nation over the last two decades, winning 16 MAC regular season crowns, 10 MAC Tournament championships and the 2009 national title.
Saturday evening in front of a rowdy Akron crowd of 1,768, it was Western Michigan's time to shine. The loss snapped a 13-match home unbeaten streak for the Zips, dating back to last season. Akron's record fell to 8-5-1, 2-1-0 MAC.
Grant's goal was his second of the season and the 10th of his career. The Broncos forced Akron's Victor Souto to turn the ball over in the Zips' defensive third and juniors Greg Timmer and Sean Conerty connected on passes, slotting the ball over to Grant. Grant beat UA keeper Jake Fenlason from the left wing at 30:55. Conerty notched his MAC-leading 10th assist on the goal, which moved him into a tie for second all-time in WMU single-season assists.
“The goal was quality, Jason Grant hammered it low to the corner from 18 yards out,” Wiseman said. “The buildup between Conerty and Timmer was great one-touch soccer.”
Logan Wright nearly gave the Broncos a 2-0 lead just before the half, sailing a shot just over the bar in the final minute. Both teams tallied four shots in the first 45 minutes, but WMU would be the only squad to put a shot on goal (two). Conerty also nearly gave WMU an insurance goal in the second half, ringing a free kick off the far post in the 54th minute.
Western Michigan redshirt freshman goalkeeper Drew Shepherd faced 11 shots, seven in the second half, and made two saves to record his second-straight shutout. As a team, WMU has totaled five shutouts on the year.
“Our organization throughout the match was fantastic,” said Wiseman. “Akron did not get its first shot on goal until the 80th minute and that is credit to our defense. Drew had to come up big in the final minutes a couple times and he did.
“Although we were on the road, what a great Homecoming weekend for Western Michigan. It's a great day to be a Bronco.”
WMU has three remaining games left in the regular season. The team travels to Dayton Tuesday for a non-conference matchup and closes out the year with two MAC opponents, facing Bowling Green on the road, Nov. 1, and West Virginia at home, Nov. 8.
