Game 18
#25 Western Michigan vs SIU Edwardsville
Saturday, November 9 l 1 p.m.
Kalamazoo, Mich. | WMU Soccer Complex
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KALAMAZOO, Mich. - The Western Michigan men's soccer team (11-5-1, 2-1-1 MAC) will host SIU Edwardsville on Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. to conclude its 2019 regular season schedule.
 
SIU Edwardsville Series History
This will be the third meeting between the Broncos and the Cougars, as SIUE joined the Mid-American Conference as a men's soccer affiliate member in 2017. WMU is 1-0-1 all-time in the series, having defeated the Cougars 1-0 in Kalamazoo on 10/28/17.
 
Scouting the Cougars
SIU Edwardsville, who was picked to finish fourth in the 2019 MAC preseason poll, are currently 8-4-3 overall and 2-1-1 in conference play following a scoreless draw against West Virginia on Saturday. The Cougars are averaging 1.6 goals per game through 15 matches, and are ranked seventh in the current United Soccer Coaches' North Region poll. 

SIUE returned two First Team All-MAC selections from a season ago, in senior midfielder Jorge Gonzalez and senior forward Lachlan McLean. Gonzalez leads the conference in scoring, having recorded nine goals and 23 total points on the year.

Pets in the Park
The SPCA of Southwest Michigan will be accepting donations to the left of the bleachers during the match on Saturday. Suggestions include cash donations, dog/cat toys, catnip and Hills Science canned dog/cat food, and for every item donated you will receive a WMU bandana. There will also be two dogs in attendance that are available for adoption if the weather permits. 

Organization Information
Complete Donation Wish List

Senior Day
We will be honoring Sam Biek, Anthony Bowie, Jake DeJulio, Paul Liagre, Alex Ruddock and Giuseppe Vitale, who will all be playing their final regular season match at the WMU Soccer Complex. Over the past four seasons, this senior class has led Western Michigan to unmatched success, which includes the first ever MAC regular season championship and NCAA Tournament victory for the program back in 2017. Having collected 48 victories so far, they are the all-time winningest class in Western Michigan men's soccer history.

MAC Tournament Outlook
Akron has clinched the top seed in the 2019 MAC Men's Soccer Championship. The winner of Saturday's game between WMU and SIUE will earn the #2 seed and a bye into the semifinal round, while the loser will host a quarterfinal contest on Tuesday, November 12. 

Broncos Crack the Top 25
The Broncos are ranked 25th in the latest United Soccer Coaches' national poll, which was released on Tuesday. Western Michigan has now been featured in the top 25 for four consecutive seasons in that particular poll. 

Two Shutouts for Walker
Redshirt freshman Isaac Walker was named the MAC Co-Player of the Week on Tuesday, sharing the honor with David Egbo from Akron. Walker, who leads the conference in goals against average, played 187 scoreless minutes last week to help the Broncos earn 1-0 victories over Detroit Mercy and Bowling Green. WMU now sits atop the MAC as a team with four Player of the Week accolades during the 2019 campaign; Anthony Bowie on 9/10 and 10/8, Charlie Sharp on 10/15 and Isaac Walker on 11/5.

#WeWillReign