KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan soccer team hosts the University of Akron in its final home match of the 2022 season on Thursday at 4 p.m. before heading on the road to take on Ohio on Sunday at 1 p.m.
 
Thursday's game can be watched live at www.wmubroncos.com/watch, with Sunday's live on Youtube.com/OhioBobcatTV.
 
The Broncos are coming off a rough week, losing consecutive games for the first time in conference play. WMU opened the week with at trip down to Miami (Ohio), falling 1-0. On Sunday the Broncos jumped out to a very early 1-0 lead on a goal by Drew Martin in just the 2nd minute, but Eastern Michigan tied it up later in the first half and then scored in the final minutes.
 
Western Michigan must finish in the top four of the Mid-American Conference standings if it wishes to make the MAC Tournament. WMU is currently in sixth place in the MAC with a 3-3-2 record. Bowling Green sits ahead at 3-2-3, followed by Miami (3-1-4), Kent State (4-1-3), Ball State (5-1-2) and Buffalo (5-0-3). The Broncos wrap up the regular season next Thursday at Northern Illinois.
 
SCOUTING THE ZIPS
Akron sits in last place in the conference with a 1-5-2 record in the MAC and 2-7-4 overall. The Zips are on a three-game unbeaten streak with a win at Northern Illinois, a tie at Ball State and a tie over Central Michigan at home.
 
Ella Hadley leads the team in scoring with four goals. Emma King is the lone other player to have more than one goal, with three and a team-best two assists. Penelope Cuirinier has played the bulk of the minutes in goal, with a 2-5-2 record with 50 saves and one shutout.
 
SCOUTING THE BOBCATS
Ohio sits right behind the Broncos in the MAC standings with a 3-4-1 conference record and a 7-6-2 record overall. The Bobcats split action last week with a 4-1 win at Notre Dame and a 2-1 loss at home against Ball State. OU will play at Toledo on Thursday before hosting the Broncos.
 
Regan Berg leads the team with six goals to go with three assists for 15 points. Abby Townsend has a team-high 19 points and with a squad-best nine assists and five goals Celeste Sloma and Sam Wexell have both played 10 games in goal this season. Sloma is 4-3-1 with 28 saves and four shutouts, while Wexell is 3-3-1 with 34 saves and two shutouts.