KALAMAZOO, Mich. - The Western Michigan men's soccer team begins a three-game stretch of Mid-American conference matchups to close out the season on Saturday, Oct. 20 with a contest at Bowling Green State University. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Cochrane Stadium. 

Last Time Out
Western Michigan (8-5-2, 0-1-1 MAC) wrapped up its 2018 non-conference slate with a 2-1 overtime victory over Xavier University on Tuesday, Oct. 16. The Broncos went up 1-0 in the first half with a goal by Mike Melaragni at the 24th minute, but the visiting Musketeers fired back and tied the game at 1-1 in the second half, forcing overtime. WMU scored an own goal off a Xavier defender six minutes into the extra frame to seal the win. 

Series History
Saturday's match will mark the 45th all-time matchup between Western Michigan and Bowling Green, with the Falcons holding a 27-14-3 series advantage. The Broncos are unbeaten in the previous three against BGSU, including a 1-0 victory last season in Kalamazoo on Nov. 5, 2017. The win during the regular season finale and senior day clinched the MAC regular season title outright, its first ever in school history as WMU finished 5-0-0 in conference play. 

Scouting Bowling Green
The Falcons most recently notched a 2-1 overtime win at Northern Illinois last Saturday, Oct. 13 to improve their record to 4-5-3 overall and 1-0-1 in the MAC. BGSU is unbeaten in its last four matchups, including a 0-0 double overtime draw versus Akron University Oct. 6. The Falcons have played to overtime in four of their last five matches, with Charlie Maciejewski scoring the game-winner at NIU and at IUPUI on Oct. 9 en route to earning MAC Co-Player of the Week. Senior forward Tate Robertson had guided the Falcon attack this season, leading the team with 14 points (3g-8a) and is the MAC's leader in assists. Junior goalkeeper Anthony Memwebia has started all 12 games in net for BGSU and owns a .667 save percentage and a 1.48 goals against average to go along with two shutouts. 

Around the MAC
With all six members having played two conference matches, West Virginia sits atop the standings with six points. WVU is 2-0-0 after defeating WMU 2-1 and the reigning MAC Tournament Championships from Akron, 2-1 in overtime. SIUE, ranked No. 20 by College Soccer News, and BGSU are both 1-0-1 in the MAC, followed by 0-1-1 mark from WMU and Akron. NIU is still searching for its first conference victory at 0-2-0. 

Oct. 20 MAC Schedule
WMU at BGSU
Akron at Northern Illinois
SIUE at West Virginia

Bronco Notables

• The Broncos are 6-2-1 when playing at their home field and are 2-3-1 when playing away from WMU Soccer Complex. 
• WMU recorded its first overtime victory of the season versus Xavier Oct. 16, winning 2-1. The last WMU overtime win came during a 1-0 OT win at then-ranked No. 15 West Virginia University Oct. 20, 2017. 
• WMU had its six-game unbeaten streak come to an end on Saturday, Oct. 6 in the MAC opener versus West Virginia. It was the first time the Broncos lost their conference opener since 2015. 
• Tommy Clark was selected as a candidate for the Senior CLASS Award Sept. 19.
• WMU ranks first in the MAC with 100 corner kicks, averaging 6.67 per game.
• Zack Shane and Cameron Sipple are tied for the Bronco scoring leading with nine points (3g-3a) each.
• Ben Thornton headed in his fourth goal of the season versus Oakland (Oct. 9) and is tied for the WMU goal-scoring lead with Kosti Moni. 
• Mike Melaragni scored his first collegiate against Oakland. Three Bronco freshmen have scored goals this season, including Shane and Caden Jackman among Melaragni. 
• Paul Liagre, a junior college transfer, scored his first goal as a Bronco at SIUE. Liagre leads the team with six assists, which also ranks tied for third in the MAC.
• Freshman goalkeeper Lukas Von Lienen has started 11 games for WMU and ranks second in the MAC with a 0.98 goals against average and third with a .750 save percentage.