KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan men's soccer program and head coach Chad Wiseman have announced the schedule for the upcoming 2023 season.
 
The Broncos bring a competitive resume to the Missouri Valley Conference this season. Since 2015, the team has an overall record of 86-37-22, including seventeen wins over Power 5 schools. The Broncos have been ranked as high as fifth nationally, earned an at-large bid and the 10th seed, have had three individual NCAA statistical champions, and five players drafted in the MLS. 

The Broncos sport an overall record of 14-11-5 versus current MVC schools, with Missouri State the only school the team has yet to compete against. 
 
The schedule features eight regular season home games and nine away. Joining the Broncos in the MVC will be familiar foes Northern Illinois and Bowling Green. 
 
The Broncos open with the annual Brown & Gold Game on Wednesday, Aug. 9 at 5 pm before heading to Loyola Chicago on Friday, Aug. 11 for a 6 pm exhibition match. WMU welcomes Xavier on Sunday, Aug. 13 for an exhibition match, part of a doubleheader with the woman's program. The Broncos wrap up exhibition play with a visit to Northwestern for an exhibition match at 6 pm on Friday, Aug. 18. 
 
The regular season kicks off with an away game at Vermont on Thursday, Aug. 24. Last season, Vermont has an impressive run in the NCAA National Tournament, reaching the Elite 8 before narrowly losing 2-1 to the eventual National Champions Syracuse. They finished the season with a 16-4-2 record to rank fourth in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 Final Season Poll. 
 
Continuing play on the road, WMU battles two teams for the first time in program history. The Broncos take on Utah Valley on Sunday, Aug. 27 at America First Field, home of MLS affiliate Real Salt Lake, before meeting the Falcons of Air Force on Thursday, Aug. 31. Utah Valley finished 7-8-1 and 5-4 in the Western Athletic Conference, while AF finished 8-6-3 and 7-1-1 in the WAC, including a 3-1 loss to MVC conference affiliates Bowling Green and a scoreless draw with No. 25 Missouri State.
 
The Brown & Gold host Butler at the WMU soccer complex for their home opener on Monday, Sept. 4 at 3 pm. The game against the Bulldogs will also be the annual Bronco Soccer Fest Game with details to be released in the future. 
 
WMU  battles at home against Dayton on Sunday, Sept. 10 at 1 pm and Detroit Mercy at 5 pm on Wednesday, Sept. 13. WMU opens MVC play against Bowling Green on Saturday, Sept. 16 at 4 pm at the WMU Soccer Complex.
 
A quick break from MVC play, the Broncos mark their first time facing the Wildcats of Villanova on Tuesday, Sept. 19 at 4 pm before making its way to Wright State on Tuesday, Sept. 26 for a 5 pm matchup. 
 
Western Michigan heads on the road for the first time in conference play at UIC on Saturday, Sept. 30 at 8 pm and continue on the road on Saturday, Oct. 7 for a 4 pm game at Evansville. 
 
The Broncos look to further their dominance over in-state opponents, with a 14-0 record WMU welcomes Oakland to the WMU Soccer Complex on Wednesday, Oct. 11 at 4:30 pm. After the game with the Golden Grizzlies, the Broncos host Drake on Saturday, Oct.14 at noon before facing NIU for a home matchup on Wednesday, Oct. 18 at 4 pm. 
 
Coming off its third-straight MVC Tournament title, Missouri State hosts WMU for the first time in program history on Sunday, Oct. 22 at 7 pm before the Bronco's final home game of the regular season on Friday, Oct. 27 at 3:30 pm against Belmont. Western Michigan closes out the regular season at Bradley on Wednesday, Nov. 1 at 8 pm. 
 
"Coming off a record breaking 2022 season, we thought we needed to look for some different challenges for fall 2023," Coach Wiseman said. "We open the season against a top 10 team in Vermont, that should make for one of the very best opening day matchups throughout college soccer. Our administration is big on student-athlete experience, playing Utah Valley at America First Field, home of Real Salt Lake MLS side will be an unbelievable experience for the players. There is no doubt the schedule is going to be very difficult to navigate. I believe we have the talent and experience required to attack this schedule. We are thrilled to be competing in the MVC for the first time, I believe the conference is loaded with talented teams. At the end of the day, you try to build a schedule that will give the team two ways to make the NCAA National Tournament and I believe we have accomplished that with this slate of matches."
 
The Missouri Valley Conference Tournament will commence with the quarterfinals on Sunday, Nov. 5, the semifinals on Wednesday, Nov. 8, and the championship game on Saturday, Nov. 11. The higher-seeded team will host its quarterfinal matchup, and the regular season champion will host the semifinal and title game.