KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan men's soccer team clinched a program record with its eighth consecutive victory, with a 7-1 win over Chicago State University on Sunday, Oct. 2 at the WMU Soccer Complex.
Senior forward Charlie Sharp tied a program record after scoring four goals, while Mike Melaragni tallied two and Dylan Sing one. Sing also chipped in two assists in the victory alongside assists from Jonathan Robinson, Eric Conerty, Tanner Hodgson, Carson Hodgson, Matt Lockwood, and Jaylen Shannon.
Melaragni got his first of the day in the 4th minute. Robinson sent a ball from the left flank into the box, and it bounced to Melaragni, who kicked it into the bottom left net.
Shortly after Sharp recorded his first in the 17th minute, Conerty sent a corner kick into the box connecting with Sharp resulting in a 2-0 lead.
Sharp then tallied his second of the game in the 21st minute, this time with an assist from the Hodgson brothers. The Hodgson pair connected passes in the midfield which sent Sharp on a foot race against CSU's center back. Sharp was able to push past the defense rocketing a shot off the far-right post, pushing the lead to 3-0.
He completed his natural hat trick in the 25th minute off a service from Lockwood who received a lofted pass inside the 18-yard box from Conerty. This time, Sharp snuck in a touch around the Cougar defender slotting the ball near-left post.
Melaragni put the Broncos ahead 5-0 with a goal in the 29th minute. Off a corner kick from Conerty, Melaragni headed the ball to the top of the 18-yard box which was then headed back down to him by Sing. He then poked the ball through Chicago State's defenders and goalkeeper into the bottom-right netting.
Sharp finished the day in the 30th minute with a left-footed shot to the bottom-left netting. Sing served a ball off the end line which met the foot of Carson Hodgson at the top of the 18-yard box, who then slotted a ball through the compact defense within the box to Sharp.
"Charlie Sharp has been a handle all year and basically his entire career. I don't think Chicago had an answer for him today," said Chad Wiseman.
Adding just one more, in the 44th minute, Sing netted his first goal of the day off a header pass from Melaragni. Sing was able to hold off the defense, cutting the ball back and slotting a left-footed rocket into the near right post.
"I thought they left no mistake that we were the better team today," said Coach Chad Wiseman. "We sit nine points at the top of the MAC. I think that there is a lot to say from that and there's a lot more soccer to be played, but we are off to a good start in conference play."
WMU outshot CSU 20-7 overall, with an 8-5 advantage in shots on goal. Graduate Transfer, Hunter Morse made his ninth-straight start in net, recording four saves.
Up next, Western Michigan heads to the University of Detroit Mercy on Wednesday, Oct. 5. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
