KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Western Michigan women's soccer's senior class shined on Sunday afternoon as the Broncos beat Eastern Michigan, 2-1, at the WMU Soccer Complex.
The group of Alyssa Burke, Paige Dobbs, Colleen McKay and Savannah Rembold were honored prior to the start. Dobbs and McKay each scored goals, while Burke set up McKay's game-winner. Sophomore Hannah Sargent made five saves to earn her 11th win for the Broncos (11-5-0, 5-3-0 MAC).
"You can't write it any better than that," said head coach Sarah Stanczyk on the performance of the seniors. "They've been our guiding light the entire season and it was a clear example of it today. They are a pretty resilient and relentless group and they just believe in this team."
Dobbs got Western Michigan on the scoreboard early in just the 8th minute. WMU earned a corner kick and Grace Labadie served the ball into the box. Dobbs made a late run to the back post and headed it down and into the net for her second goal of the season and put WMU up 1-0.
The Broncos held the Eagles to just five total shots in the first half, only allowing two to reach Sargent. EMU turned up the pressure in the second half and found its breakthrough goal in the 55th minute. Sabrina McNeill crossed it from the left side of the field to the right side of the box. Kristin Nason then redirected the ball to Parys Kerr in the middle of the goal for the tap-in, trying the game at 1-1.
McKay's game-winner came in the 81st minute. Burke played her into the middle of the box and McKay switched the ball to her left foot and fired it into the right corner of the net for her third goal of the season and third game-winning goal of the season.
EMU outshot WMU 12-11 overall, while the Broncos had a 6-5 edge in shots on goal.
Western Michigan heads out on the road to Kent State and Ohio next Friday and Sunday. WMU and KSU kick off at 6 p.m. before Sunday's 1 p.m. game against the Bobcats. The Broncos close out the 2018 regular season hosting Northern Illinois on Thursday, Oct. 25 at 3 p.m. Admission is free.
