Men's Soccer | September 05, 2019

Game 3
DePaul at Western Michigan
Friday, September 6 l 5 p.m.
Kalamazoo, Mich. | WMU Soccer Complex
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Game 4
Western Michigan at Green Bay
Sunday, September 8 l 2 p.m.
Green Bay, Wis. | Aldo Santaga Stadium
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KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan men's soccer team will continue non-conference play this Friday when it welcomes DePaul to the WMU Soccer Complex, with the match scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. The Broncos will wrap-up weekend action on the road, facing Green Bay at 2 p.m. in Wisconsin on Sunday.

DePaul Series History
Friday will mark the sixth all-time meeting between the Broncos and the Blue Demons, and the first time they will play in Kalamazoo. Western Michigan leads the overall series 3-1-1. The most recent contest between the two schools came last season on August 27, with the Blue Demons defeating the Broncos for the first time.

Scouting the Blue Demons
DePaul split a pair of home games last weekend to open the 2019 season, which included a 2-1 win over MAC member Northern Illinois on Friday. Freshman forward David Gripman scored both goals for the Blue Demons.

DePaul was selected to finish ninth in the Big East men's soccer preseason poll after posting an overall record of 5-9-3 in 2018. The Blue Demons return goalkeeper Drew Nuelle, who started all 17 matches in net last season and has played all 180 minutes so far this year.

Green Bay Series History
Western Michigan shut out Green Bay by a score of 3-0 in both meetings between the two programs, which each took place at the WMU Soccer Complex on October 20, 2015, and October 17, 2017, respectively. Kalamazoo native Brandon Bye, who was selected eighth overall by the New England Revolution in the 2018 MLS SuperDraft, scored twice for the Broncos in the 2017 match-up.

Scouting the Phoenix
Green Bay was tabbed to place third in the Horizon League preseason poll after finishing tied for fourth last season. The Phoenix started their 2019 campaign with a win and a draw last weekend, including a 3-1 victory over Western Illinois at home.

Four different players scored for Green Bay last week, including 2018 First Team Horizon League honoree Andre Baires. Junior goalkeeper Jamison Yoder has taken over starting duties for the Phoenix between the pipes after seeing action in five games last season.  
 
Successful Home Opener
The Broncos regrouped after falling in their first contest of the 2019 season at Butler, shutting out Niagara at the WMU Soccer Complex to open up their home schedule on Monday. Senior forward Anthony Bowie scored two of Western Michigan's four goals on the afternoon. The Broncos are now 6-1 in home openers under head coach Chad Wiseman.

Broncos Score First Career Goals for WMU
Freshman midfielder Brennan Creek, Bethel University transfer Sam Biek and redshirt sophomore Dalton Michael all recorded their first goals as members of the Western Michigan men's soccer team. Creek, a graduate of Hackett Catholic Prep High School in Kalamazoo, scored on a header to extend the Broncos lead to three against the Purple Eagles.

Up Next  
Western Michigan will host Cincinnati next Saturday, September 14 at 12 p.m.

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