Men's Soccer | August 29, 2019

Game 1
Western Michigan at Butler
Friday, August 30 l 7 p.m.
Indianapolis, Ind. l Bud and Jackie Sellick Bowl
Watch Live on Facebook l Live Stats | Twitter
 
Game 2
Niagara at Western Michigan
Monday, September 2 l 3 p.m.
Kalamazoo, Mich. | WMU Soccer Complex
Watch Live l Live Stats | Twitter
 
KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan men's soccer team will begin the regular season portion of its 2019 campaign at 7 p.m. Friday, traveling to Indianapolis, Ind., to face Butler. The Broncos wrap up Labor Day weekend at 3 p.m. Monday, hosting Niagara.
  
Butler Series History
Friday's contest marks the fifth all-time meeting between the Broncos and the Bulldogs with the teams having split the first four meetings. Butler took the first game in the series by a 2-1 final on August 30, 2013, before Western Michigan returned the favor on September 12, 2014, winning by the same score.
 
The Broncos made it consecutive wins with a 3-2 victory on September 8, 2017, before the ninth-ranked Bulldogs earned a 2-0 victory on August 30, 2018.
 
On the current WMU roster, Anthony Bowie owns the lone point against Butler with a goal at the 24:30 mark in 2017 that put the Broncos ahead 3-1.
 
Scouting the Bulldogs
Butler was picked to finish sixth in the Preseason All-BIG EAST poll. Redshirt senior midfielder Jared Timmer earned a place on the Preseason All-BIG EAST Team. Timmer, who is a co-captain in 2019, was a 2016 All-BIG EAST First Team selection and a member of the 2015 BIG EAST All-Freshman Team. 
 
The Bulldogs finished 2018 with a 4-12-2 overall record and 2-7 mark in league action. Senior leading scorer Brandon Guhl's 18 points return to the squad this year, as does classmate Alex Lehtinen's team second-best 11 points. In goal, sophomore Gabriel Gjergji, who posted a 1.94 goals-against average in 2018, is back for his second consecutive year as the starter. 
 
Niagara Series History
The teams have met just once in program history, with Western Michigan downing the Purple Eagles by a 5-2 final on September 10, 2010, in Kalamazoo. The Broncos trailed 1-0 at the half before ripping off five goals after intermission. In the contest, current WMU assistant coach Shane Lyons was credited with an assist.
 
Scouting the Purple Eagles
In the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Preseason Poll, Niagara was selected to finish 11th in the league. The Purple Eagles will feature 11 newcomers along with 11 returning lettermen. All season, Niagara will celebrate the 50th year of men's soccer as a varsity sport.
 
In 2018, the Purple Eagles finished with a 3-15 mark, including a 1-9 ledger in MAAC play. Junior midfielder Luca Pacheco's team-best 10 points return for this fall. Last year, he led the squad with four goals and two assists. The Purple Eagles must replace starting goalkeeper Steve Casey, who owned a 1.84 goals-against average. 
 
Wiseman's Take
"We have had some great matches with Butler over the last few years," head coach Chad Wiseman said. "Butler is a talented, well coached and extremely organized. They have a system they stay true to. They have some nice attacking pieces that will make you pay for mistakes. We have had a great preseason. We are fit and hungry to open the season."
 
A Rare Road Opener
Friday's trip to Butler will mark Western Michigan's first time having its season-opening match on the road since a 2-0 victory at Marshall on August 26, 2016. The Broncos have kicked off the regular season campaign at home in all but three of head coach Wiseman's seasons at the helm: 2019 at Butler, 2016 at Marshall and 2013 at Butler.
 
Strong in Season Openers …
Western Michigan is 4-1 in its last five season-opening matches with the lone loss a 2-1 setback to Detroit on August 29, 2014. 
 
… Especially Under Wiseman 
Since the 2013 campaign when Wiseman took over the program, Western Michigan has gone 4-2 in season openers and is riding a streak of four consecutive wins to tip off the campaign. 
 
Looking Back at Exhibition Play
Western Michigan freshman midfielder Brennan Creek cracked the scoreboard for the only time August 18 as the Broncos held off Wright State 1-0 in exhibition action. On the scoring play, Wright State goalie Joel Sundell had the ball in his hands before dropping it with Creek standing nearby to pick up the tally.
 
A week later, on August 26, sophomore forward Mike Melaragni scored in the 34th minute to push WMU to a 1-1 tie at No. 9 Notre Dame. Freshman Max Keenan tallied the assist as the Broncos came back from an early 1-0 deficit.
 
Redshirt freshman Isaac Walker and sophomore Lukas Von Lienen combined for just one goal allowed in 180 minutes of preseason play with Von Lienen turning in 135 clean minutes.
 
Where We Were in 2018
Western Michigan finished the season at 11-6-3 overall and 1-1-2 in Mid-American Conference action. The Broncos made their seventh MAC title game appearance and fell 3-0 to Akron. The Western Michigan 2018 senior class of Tommy Clark, Connor McNulty, Elijah Michaels, Kosti Moni, Jake Rufe, Cameron Sipple and Ben Thornton totaled 48 wins as a class, the all-time winningest class in program history.
 
Individually, Bowie became Western Michigan's first CoSIDA Academic-All America first team honoree. Thornton was tabbed first team All-MAC and second team all-region while Sipple was a second-team all-league selection. Bowie, Clark and Jake DeJulio were MAC Distinguished Scholar-Athletes for their outstanding performances in the classroom.
 
Annual Soccer Fest Set
The Broncos will host their Soccer Fest on Monday. The annual event will allow fans to tailgate on the WMU Practice Field from 12:30-3 p.m. with kickoff versus Niagara set for 3 p.m. Admission for the tailgate is $20 adult (ages 13 & above), $10 (ages 4-12) or free (ages 3 & under) while game admission is free. At this year's tailgate event, fans are welcome to enjoy an all-you-can-eat buffet, including adult beverages (a selection of beer & wine), bubble soccer, face painting, a soccer dart board, a team meet and greet and the opportunity to dress up like a bronco.
 
Up Next
Western Michigan continues home action at 5 p.m. on Friday, September 6, by welcoming DePaul. The Broncos then return to the road at 2 p.m. on Sunday, September 8, to take on Green Bay.
 
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