Women's Soccer | October 03, 2019
KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan women's soccer team heads on the road for the first time in Mid-American Conference play, heading to state rivals Central Michigan on Friday at 7 p.m. and Eastern Michigan on Sunday at 1 p.m.
HOW TO FOLLOW
Friday's game against the Chippewas will be live streamed for free via cmuchippewas.com/watch. Sunday's game at EMU will not be streamed but live stats are available here.
GOOD OPENING WEEKEND
Western Michigan (3-5-1, 1-0-1 MAC) was one of just four teams to go undefeated in the opening weekend of MAC play, joining Central Michigan, Bowling Green and Kent State. WMU tied the Golden Flashes, 3-3, and defeated Ohio, 1-0. Sophomore forward Morgan Otteston tallied three goals in the games, two against KSU and the game-winner against the Bobcats. Last Saturday was Otteson's first multi-goal game of the season and of her career. She now leads the Broncos with five on the season.
The Grand Rapids, Mich., native has matched her career-best season goal tally that she set during her freshman year. Last season it took her 19 games to reach five goals, having done so in just nine this season.
SCOUTING THE CHIPPEWAS
Central Michigan (5-0-2, 2-0-0 MAC) has yet to lose this season and has two of its five wins coming in overtime. CMU opened up MAC play with a pair of 1-0 victories over Ball State and Miami, the latter requiring two overtimes. After opening the season with pair of the ties, the Chippewas have now on five straight.
Senior midfielder Marle Bringard leads the team in both goals and points, with three goals so far this season and an assist for seven points. CMU has only scored nine goals on the season, with junior defender Alina Miagkova the only other player to score more than once this season, with two goals.
The Chippewa defense been tough to crack for opposing teams. CMU has given up just four goals in the seven games, has registered three shutouts and has not given up more than one goal in a game. Senior Zoie Reed has spent every second in goal for Central Michigan, making 39 saves.
SCOUTING THE EAGLES
Eastern Michigan (1-7-2, 0-2-0 MAC) opened the season with a tie against Oakland and then a win at Detroit Mercy, but has not found the win column since. EMU went on the road last weekend, Falling 3-1 to Miami and 3-2 in overtime at Ball State.
Junior forward Sabrina McNeil is the lone player to score more than one goal on the team, leading the squad with two for four points. Junior midfielder Nicole Remedios leads the team in assists with three.
EMU's defense is allowing 2.2 goals per game but the numbers are skewed due to two losses in which it gave up five goals in each. Eastern Michigan has given up a goal or less, including two shutouts, in four of its 10 games this season thanks to junior netminder Mabel Dunn. Dunn 52 total saves on the season and was in net for both of the team's shutouts.
ON THE HORIZON
The Broncos travel to Miami next Thursday, Oct. 10 to take on the RedHawks at 4 p.m. Western Michigan returns to the WMU Soccer Complex on Sunday, Oct. 13 to host Ball State at 1 p.m. Admission to all WMU women's soccer regular season games is free.
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