KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- After winning the MAC Regular Season Championship, the Western Michigan women's soccer team is set to host the semifinals and finals of the Mid-American Conference Tournament on Nov. 2 and Nov. 5. The Broncos play Kent State on Thursday, Nov. 2 at 2 p.m. at the WMU Soccer Complex.
LAST TIME OUT
Western Michigan was able to clinch the MAC Regular Season Championship with a 3-1 win over Toledo on Oct. 26.
After going down 1-0,
Jen Blitchok scored two straight goals and
Jenna Blackburn netted a third to help the Broncos finish the MAC season with an unbeaten record.
AWARD WINNERS
The Broncos were well represented on the All-MAC Teams and season awards list, which was released on Tuesday by the league office.
Mira Pierre-Webster was named the league's Defensive Player of the Year,
Lauren Boafo earned Goalkeeper of the Year and
Lewis Robinson was selected as Coach of the Year.
Additionally, the Broncos had six players named to the All-MAC Teams. Joining Pierre-Webster and Boafo on the first team were
Jen Blitchok and
Abby Werthman. Pierre-Webster has now made the All-MAC Team in back-to-back seasons. On the second team were
Jenna Blackburn and
Brielle Gomez. Like Pierre-Webster, Blackburn has now been selected All-MAC for the second consecutive season.
MAKING HISTORY
Since the start of Mid-American Conference play in late September, the Broncos have been on a historic run. Not only did the team clinch its first regular season MAC Championship in program history, the squad is also on a program-record 11 game unbeaten streak.
The previous program record of 10 games was set back in 2003. That team went on to win the MAC Tournament title and make the NCAA Tournament. WMU is only the fifth team in MAC history to finish conference play with an undefeated record.
DYNAMIC DUO UP TOP
Down the stretch of the season, Western Michigan has relied upon a pair of dynamic scorers to lead the way.
Jen Blitchok and
Jenna Blackburn stepped up in the biggest moments, helping the Broncos secure the MAC Regular Season Championship.
Over the last three games of the regular season, Blitchok and Blackburn have combined for 18 points on seven goals and four assists.
Blitchok led the way in the scoring department, netting four goals, while adding one assist. Blackburn was balanced in her attack, delivering a goal and an assist in each of the team's final three games of the season.
Blitchok and Blackburn are tied-for-first in the conference in assists and in the top seven in goals scored during conference play.
SCOUTING THE GOLDEN FLASHES
Kent State finished as the No. 4 overall team in the MAC this season, defeating Northern Illinois in the opening round of the conference tournament. WMU upended the Golden Flashes 2-0 back on Oct. 19.
Alisa Arthur is one to watch offensively, as she leads the team in points, goals and assists. She has 23 points on nine goals and five assists.
In net, Sarah Melen has started every game this season, boasting an 11-6-2 record, .806 save percentage and 1.12 goals against average.
