KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan women's soccer team continues Mid-American Conference play this week, hitting the road on Thursday to Athens for a battle against Ohio. Kick-off is scheduled for 4 p.m. Following the contest with the Bobcats, WMU returns to Kalamazoo to host Kent State on Sunday at 2 p.m.

WHERE TO WATCH
Thursday's game in Athens on can be streamed for free via YouTube. Sunday's contest at the WMU Soccer Complex against Kent State can be found on ESPN3.

SCOUTING THE BOBCATS
The Broncos will enter Athens to take on a Bobcat squad (7-3-1) that has won three of its last four games to start their conference play. Most recently, Ohio took on Toledo, where the Bobcats notched a 1-0 victory at home.

Fifth-year forward Sarina Dirrig netted the only goal for either team in the game, with her score coming in the 70^th minute of play off an assist from freshman midfielder Ally Campanella.

Senior goalkeeper Sam Wexell also tallied six saves against the Rockets to push the Bobcats to victory.

SCOUTING THE FLASHES
Kent State (6-4-1) rides into Kalamazoo on Sunday following a close home loss to Bowling Green with a final score of 3-2. The score tells the story as the Golden Flashes were in the game for its entirety, with the go-ahead goal for the Falcons coming in the 73^rd minute of play.

For Kent State, redshirt senior forward Cameron Shedenhelm scored her fifth goal of the season off a Karly Hellstrom assist. Hellstrom, a redshirt senior defender, added to her team's effort with her own goal in the 15^th minute as well.

Additionally, junior goalkeeper Sarah Melen recorded four saves for KSU.

BUILDING CONFERENCE MOMENTUM
The Broncos enter Thursday's contest looking to build some momentum for themselves following a hard-fought double-overtime loss to rival Central Michigan this past Sunday. While the Broncos were on the losing end, it was a very evenly balanced game, with both squads firing off 15 shots respectively, six of which landing on goal for each team.

This game came immediately after WMU topped Eastern Michigan by a final score of 1-0 for their first conference victory of the 2021 season. The Broncos will look to channel the positives from their past two games into their matchup on Thursday with the Bobcats.

ON THE HORIZON
Western Michigan continues MAC play next Thursday at Buffalo before hosting Akron on Sunday at 2 p.m. Sunday's contest can be streamed online via Bronco All-Access