Women's Soccer | October 17, 2019
KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan women's soccer team looks for some pivotal results on the road this weekend, heading to take on Akron on Friday at 7 p.m. and at Buffalo on Sunday at 1 p.m.
THE STANDINGS
Western Michigan (5-7-1, 3-2-1 MAC) currently sits tied for fourth in the Mid-American Conference with Kent State at 10 points. WMU is eight behind leaders Bowling Green, five behind second place Ball State and just two points behind third place Central Michigan.
THE SERIES
Since the first meeting in 2001, the Broncos are 15-1-3 all-time against Akron. The lone win for the Zips came in 2003 and WMU has won the last three meetings. Western Michigan trails the all-time series against Buffalo at 9-10-5. WMU is 3-1-1 in the last for games against UB.
ALONE AT THE TOP
Sophomore forward Morgan Otteson sits at the top of the MAC goal scoring leader board after netting her seventh of the season in last week's win at Miami. Otteson is one ahead Toledo's Stephanie Currie, Ohio's Olivia Milesky and Bowling Green's Nikki Cox. In conference play she is tied with Kent State's Vital Kats with five for the conference lead.
Otteson has already surpassed her season total of five that she set during her freshman campaign. Her goal tally has counted for 41.1 percent of the team's goal scoring this season. Junior Bailey Korhorn is second on the team with four goals.
ROAD WARRIORS
WMU is on the road for three of its final five games of the season, including this weekend's road trip. The Broncos have had plenty of success away from the WMU Soccer Complex, going 3-3-0 this season. Two of WMU's three conference wins this season have come on the road, both shutout victories at Central Michigan and Miami.
SCOUTING THE ZIPS
Akron (5-8-1, 2-3-1 MAC) sits tied for seventh place in the conference standings with seven points, three behind the Broncos. The Zips have scored 12 goals in 14 games this season and have been shutout five times. Senior defender Ashley Amato leads the team with three goals scored and Sydney Worthy is the only other player to tally more than one goal this season, with two. Junior defender Anya Donelan leads the team with two assists.
Akron's defense has only allowed 15 goals in 14 games, at 1.07 goals per game. UA's goals against average ranks second in the MAC behind Ball State and Central Michigan, both tied at 0.71. The stingy defense has resulted in four shutouts on the season. Freshman Libby Harper has played the majority the minutes in goal for Akron, playing in 14 games with a 4-6-1 record and making 33 total saves.
SCOUTING THE BULLS
Buffalo (6-6-1, 3-3-0 MAC) sit alone in sixth place, just one point behind Western Michigan. The Bulls have averaged 1.62 goals per game this season, fourth overall in the conference. Junior forward Marcy Barberic leads the team in points with 12 on a team-high five goals and two assists. Katherine Camper, Kaitlyn Walsh, and Kara Daly each have two goals on the season. Seven different Bulls have recorded two assists.
Sophomore Emily Kelly has started every game in net, making 61 saves and recording four shutouts. The Bulls have allowed 15 total goals on the season at 1.15 per game.
ON THE HORIZON
WMU welcomes Toledo on next Thursday for a 4 p.m. kickoff before hosting MAC leaders Bowling Green on Sunday at 1 p.m. Prior to Sunday's game the Broncos will take time to honor its senior class for Senior Day.
