KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan men's soccer team wrapped up the 2021 season on a high note after a dramatic 4-3 win in overtime against rival Akron on Thursday at the WMU Soccer Complex.
In the sixth minute of the first overtime period Dylan Sing had the ball in the offensive half and passed the ball across the field to the right side to Brennan Creek. Creek found Charlie Sharp in the box and Sharp received the ball, posted up with his back to the goal. Forward Mike Melaragni came running into the box and Sharp laid the ball off for him and Melaragni fired it into the net for the game-winner and his third goal of the season.
"Something great about coaching college athletes is watching them grow," said head coach Chad Wiseman. "But even more rewarding is watching them attack a challenge. I challenged Dylan, Mike and Chuck after the Bowling Green game to be better in these moments and with their chances. It was a very direct message. Today, Akron had absolutely no answer for all three of them. Each of them getting a goal and each of them having a say in the game-winner in overtime. They were all very impressive today."
Sharp helped lead to the game's opening goal in the ninth minute when he was brought down in the box by Akron goalkeeper Will Meyer. In his final game as a Bronco, senior Caden Jackman stepped up to the spot and buried the penalty kick for his second goal of the season, giving WMU the early 1-0 lead.
The Zips responded and tied it up with a goal in the 25th minute by Carlo Ritaccio but Western Michigan retook the lead in the 32nd minute on a goal by Sharp. After a long throw into the box, an Akron defender tried to clear the ball out but Sing stopped it and directed the ball to his left and Sharp. Sharp quickly put the ball into the back of the net for his fifth goal of the season.
UA, once again, responded and this time with a goal just before the end of the first half by Diogo Pacheco at 43:13.
Sing gave the Broncos the lead for the third time in the 66th minute, heading a cross by Matheus Lima toward the ground and into the net from just in front for his fifth goal of the season.
Pachecco tied it back up at 3-3 just over a minute later.
"The game did not lack entertainment, that's for sure, added Wiseman. "I thought our press was spot on today. Akron struggled to play through it and we turned them over in some great spots. We were very aggressive with our team shape and it paid off. All the credit needs to go to the players. They were fantastic today."
"It doesn't get any better for our four seniors to have their final game at the WMU Soccer Complex be a 4-3 overtime win against Akron. Our alumni will be smiling and celebrating with great pride tonight. That's back-to-back victories against Akron and no team in Bronco history has ever done that."
WMU moved temporarily into fourth place in the MAC standings but needed Georgia Southern to defeat Georgia State on Thursday night in order to make the MAC Tournament. GSU won 2-1 in overtime to claim the final spot.
