SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- The Western Michigan men's soccer team (10-1-3, (4-0-1)) travels west to take on #10 Missouri State (8-1-3, (4-0-1)) on Sunday, October 22, at 4:00 PM with exponential Missouri Valley Conference title implications.
Both teams are an equal 4-0-1 through five games played in conference matches this season. The two conference heavyweights will meet with Western Michigan leading the MVC in goals formed (32) through 14 games played, while the Bears claim the fewest goals allowed (5) in 12 contests. Nationally ranked Missouri State is ranked second in team goals against average in the entirety of Division I men's soccer and trails only Bryant, who has three goals allowed in 14 games. During their season opener on Thursday, August 24, the Bears recorded a 1-0 road victory over #14 Maryland. Later this season, on Sunday, October 8, the Bears would tie then-ranked #25 UIC 0-0 at home.
On the defensive third of the field, Ethan Brandt, Jaylen Shannon, Jonathan Robinson, Will Perkins, and Nick Stone will be tasked with one of the best offenses in the nation. The Bears have formed a very balanced core with 15 players recording at least one goal or an assist this season. Missouri State is led by Gijs Hovius, Jesus Barera, Jon Koka, and Pablo Guillen. The four have combined for 13 goals and seven assists in a little more than 10 games played on average. Hovius leads the Bears with four goals on the season, while Barera is fourth in the nation in shot accuracy, with 16 of his 24 shots being on goal. Barera is also tied for third in the MVC with three game-winning goals. During Missouri State's first 12 games, the Bears outshot their opponents 148-51 and produced a plus 14 in the goal differential department.
Western's offensive juggernauts Charlie Sharp and Dylan Sing will look to lead the Brown and Gold on the offensive front Sunday. The duo is looking to continue to engrave their names in the program record books ahead of Sunday's contest. Currently, Sharp is three goals away from claiming the all-time scoring record that has been set by Dan Edwards (1991-94) for nearly 30 years. As for Sing, he is one strike away from claiming the third spot by himself and is five away from tying Dan Edwards for the record. Once Sing Scores his next goal, he will become the third player in program history to account for 30 or more goals in his career (Edwards, Sharp).
The Brown and Gold are looking for their first-ever win over the Bears. Entering Sunday's matchup, Western Michigan trails Missouri State in the all-time series 2-0. Additionally, the Broncos will be looking to extend their program-record unbeaten streak to 14 games without a loss this weekend.
The Broncos will return to WMU Soccer Complex for their final home game of the regular season for Senior Day versus Belmont on Friday, October 27, at 3:30 PM. Live Stats and live stream information are available under the men's soccer schedule.
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