KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan men's soccer team will travel to Nashville, Tn. to face No. 9 Lipscomb University in the NCAA Second Round on Sunday, Nov. 20. Kickoff at Lipscomb University Soccer Complex is 3 p.m. The game will be streamed via ESPN+.
HOW THEY GOT HERE
The Broncos (15-2-2) earned the Mid-American Conference's automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament and claimed the program's second MAC Tournament Championship since 2003 with a 2-1 victory over No. 12 Akron this season. Western Michigan traveled to the University of Louisville for the NCAA First Round of play where they defeated the cardinals 2-1 in an overtime matchup.
The Bison of Lipscomb earned the Atlantic Sun Conference's automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament with a 6-2 win against Central Arkansas. The Bison of Lipscomb head into their first matchup of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday against Western Michigan after receiving the No. 9 seed and a first-round bye.
TOP-RATED DEFENSE
Western Michigan has been named one of the top-rated defenses in the nation. Western is second nationally in goals-against average, .444, and tied for second in shutouts with 11. The Broncos' eight goals allowed ranks them second nationally, too. Leading the Bronco's defensive line is Mid-American Conference Player of the Year,
Daniel Nimick. Nimick is the second player in Western Michigan's program history to be named MAC Player of the Year. A native of Harrogate, England, he has started all 19 matches this season, tallying seven goals and one assist for a total of 15 points. Joining Nimick in the back line are
Jaylen Shannon,
Jonathan Robinson, and
Matt Lockwood. Shannon records three goals and one assist for a total of seven points. Robinson has contributed two goals and five assists, but his two goals could be more crucial. He scored in the last second to beat Wisconsin and he scored in the second half on the road against Akron to tie the game. Lockwood has tallied one goal, and his seven assists are third on the team.
IN GOAL FOR THE BRONCOS
Graduate transfer
Hunter Morse is between the sticks for the Broncos. Named 2022 Mid-American Conference Co-Goalkeeper of the Year, Morse brings an impressive record, having only allowed eight goals in 19 matches. Morse has tallied 62 saves to earn a total of 10 shutouts this season, ranking him fifth in the NCAA for shutouts. His .873 save percentage ranks him second in the NCAA.
SCOUTING LIPSCOMB (14-2-2)
Lipscomb University received the No. 9 National Seed in the 2022 NCAA Men's Soccer NCAA Tournament. Heading into Sunday's match, the Bison received a first-round bye making this matchup the first of their NCAA journey. This match marks the first time that Lipscomb has hosted an NCAA Tournament game and the first time an Atlantic-Sun Conference team has earned a national seed in the NCAA Men's Soccer Tournament.
The Bison sit 14-2-2 on the season with their last 6-2 win against Central Arkansas in the ASUN Championship. Jelldrik Dallmann leads the Bison with 24 points, 11 goals, and two assists. He tallies 46 shots and 23 shots on goal. Following Dallmann, Hayes Wood records 19 points, eight goals, three assists, 53 shots, and 23 shots on goal. Malachi Jones adds to Lipscomb's statistics, recording seven goals, three assists, 50 shots, and 21 shots on goal.
Lipscomb outshoots its opponents 336-141 with 142-336 of its shots on goal, earning a total shot-on-goal percentage of 42.3 percent. The Bison have tallied 43 goals this season for an average of 2.39 goals per game.
ON THE HORIZON
The Western Michigan – Lipscomb winner will go on to face the winner of Portland and No. 8 Oregon State in the third round. Kickoff and location to be determined.
