KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan women's soccer team heads to Bloomington, Ind. this Thursday to take on the Hoosiers of Indiana University for a 7 p.m. showdown before returning home to Kalamazoo on Sunday to take on No. 25 USC for the first time in school history.
WHERE TO WATCH
WMU's showdown with the Hoosiers can be found on BTN+ at 7 p.m. on Thursday, while the Broncos' contest with USC can be streamed on ESPN+ at 11 a.m. on Sunday.
SCOUTING THE HOOSIERS
The Hoosiers are coming off of an historic season in the spring of 2021, where the team tied a program record for conference victories and also set a school record for Big Ten points in a single season with 19. Three members of the Indiana women's soccer team were named to the Big Ten Women's Soccer Preseason Players to Watch List. Senior defender Hanna Nemeth, junior midfielder Avery Lockwood, and freshman goalkeeper Jamie Gerstenberg were all chosen to represent their team on the list, and look to have a continued positive impact on their squad moving forward.
Indiana is also the new home of eight freshmen and three transfers. The Hoosiers return two of their top three leading goal-scorers in fifth year senior forward Melanie Forbes, as well as Lockwood.
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE TROJANS
USC entered the season ranked 14th in the nation and were picked second in the PAC-12 Preseason Coaches' Poll. Though they have since fallen to the 25th overall ranking, there are still plenty of areas for opponents to focus on when preparing for this team.
One of the biggest challenges for opponents takes the form of All-American forward Penelope Hocking, who is within striking distance of the all-time USC goal record. Hocking is the reigning PAC-12 Forward of the Year and was also a semifinalist for the MAC Hermann Trophy, along with teammate Savannah DeMelo.
Early in their season, the Trojans founds some adversity with a pair losses to BYU and Pepperdine, but got back on track most recently with a 4-2 win against Utah Valley.
They will gear up for a showdown with the University of Michigan before coming to Kalamazoo on Sunday to take on the Broncos.
BRONCOS LOOK TO BUILD ON POSITIVE MOMENTUM
Western Michigan will try to continue the same success the team saw this past Sunday against IUPUI, which featured three different goal-scorers in the 4-0 shutout victory. WMU stumbled on the road at Michigan despite senior goalkeeper, Maggie Rogers, who had a career-high 11 saves against the Wolverines.
With a nice spread of goals, assists, and saves, the Broncos look to continue the positive momentum of their second win of the year in these next two games against Power 5 opponents. Rogers had her first shutout against IUPUI on Sunday, accompanied by a pair of goals from fifth year senior forward Bailey Korhorn and one goal each from sophomore forward Cas Flanagan and redshirt-freshman midfielder Mary Dziuba. Assists for the Broncos against IUPUI came from senior defender Claudia Schilling, senior forward Morgan Otteson, and junior midfielder/forward Jorden Campbell.
ON THE HORIZON
Following Sunday's contest with USC, the Broncos face one final non-conference opponent in Butler on Sept. 16 at 7 p.m. before beginning MAC play in their home opener for the 2021 season against Bowling Green on Sept. 23 at 4 p.m.
