KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The preseason No. 14 nationally ranked Western Michigan men's soccer team is set to open its 2018 slate with an exhibition match Monday afternoon at No. 7 Michigan State University. The Broncos and Spartans are scheduled to take the pitch at 1 p.m. at the DeMartin Soccer Complex in East Lansing, Mich.

The two teams are both ranked in the United Soccer Coaches Division I preseason poll, released last week with WMU ranked No. 14 and MSU coming in at No. 7. Michigan State ended the Broncos' historic run last season in the third round of the NCAA Tournament, winning 2-1 in East Lansing.

A year ago the Broncos turned in their most successful season in program history, finishing with a 17-4-1 overall record while claiming their first ever Mid-American Conference regular season championship and their first ever NCAA Tournament victory, defeating Albany. WMU was ranked as high as No. 4 in the nation last year and finished the season No. 9.

A core of seven seniors will look to lead the heavy task of replacing a strong senior class from last season which included two All-Americans, two MLS Draft selections, and the MAC Player of the Year.

Seniors Tommy Clark, Kosti Moni, Jake Rufe, and Ben Thornton will be leaned on to lead the Broncos in 2018. Clark was a First Team All-MAC and All-Region award winner while the trio of Moni, Rufe, and Thornton were all members of the All-MAC Second Team. Elijah Michaels returns as the most experienced goalkeeper. Michaels made his first collegiate start last year and made five saves en route to shutting out No. 8 Akron.

Head coach Chad Wiseman, the 2017 MAC Coach of the Year, begins his sixth season at the helm of the WMU men's soccer program having compiled a 54-30-14 overall record.

The Broncos will round out exhibition play at Valparaiso University on Thursday before the season opener next Friday when they host Loyola-Chicago at WMU Soccer Complex.