KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan men's soccer team wrapped up the 2020-21 regular season with an historic 4-3 win over Akron at the WMU Soccer Complex on Sunday afternoon.
 
Four different Broncos scored in the victory, which had the most goals scored by WMU against the Zips in program history in just its fifth win over UA. Redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Isaac Walker made five saves on the day, including two crucial ones in the second half.
 
"What a game and what a win," exclaimed head coach Chad Wiseman. "It was a fast start with our three goals in the opening 25 minutes. I don't think anyone would believe or predict that type of start. Akron had more of the ball today and we knew that would be the case coming into the match because it usually the case when you play an Akron team. What we did with the ball when we had it was fantastic."
 
WMU took a very early lead on a goal just 2:37 into the game. Mike Melaragni headed a ball down into the UA box and Eric Conerty slotted it past the goalkeeper for his second goal of the season. Malaragni picked up his team-leading fourth assist on the opening goal.
 
The Broncos pushed the lead to 2-0 in the 13th minute on Melaragni's team-leading sixth goal of the season. Caden Jackman crossed the ball from the right flank into the box. An Akron defender tried to clear the ball but it bounced to Melaragni and he kicked it into the net.
 
Dylan Sing gave Western Michigan a 3-0 lead in the 26th minute. A corner kick was served into the Akron box. The Zips tried to clear it out but Brennan Creek was able to get control of the ball and slid it to his left for Sing to fire into the net for his fifth goal of the season. Creek tallied his third assist of the year.
 
Akron cut the lead to 3-1 in the 41st minute when Dyson Clapier had a shot make its way through traffic and off the left post and into the net.
 
The Zips got within one just 1:58 into the second half on a penalty kick goal by Diogo Pacheco.
 
Creek netted the eventual game-winner in the 64th minute. Daniel Nimick served the ball into the box on corner kick and Sing headed it right to Creek, who volleyed it into the net for his first goal of the season.
 
Daniel Strachan scored off of a free kick in the 85th minute to cut the lead to 4-3, but WMU held possession during the final five minutes.
 
"To score four goals against an Akron team is uncharted territory for our program or any program, for that matter," Wiseman added. "The toughness our team showed today is what our program is all about. These guys deserve all the credit. If you have followed us this year you have seen the growth and maturity from game to game."
 
Western Michigan has a strong resume for an at-large bid and will now wait until the NCAA Men's Soccer Tournament Selection Show on Monday at 12 p.m. at www.NCAA.com to learn its fate. Bowling Green won the MAC Regular Season Champion and the automatic berth to the tournament due to points-per game because BGSU and Akron missed games due to COVID-19 issues within their programs. The Broncos and the Falcons finished the regular season tied on points.
 
"We are 100 percent deserving of an at-large bid," said Wiseman. "We finished tie for first in the toughest RPI conference in the nation. We're the only team in the MAC that beat every other team and we have two wins against teams in the top 20 of the RPI and three top 40 wins. That resume says we deserve to selected."