KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- The Western Michigan women's soccer team is set to to open the regular season at Northern Kentucky on Aug. 17 at 7 PM. Head coach Lewis Robinson and the Broncos downed Wright State in an exhibition contest last week and enter the season with their two top scorers returning. 

OH CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN
The Broncos will have a trio of captains for the 2023 campaign, as head coach Lewis Robinson tabbed junior defender Mira Pierre-Webster, senior defender Lexi Nickole and graduate student defender Madison Cotta to lead the team. 

MAC PRESEASON POLL
The Broncos were picked to finish second in the MAC Preseason Coaches Poll. WMU received three first-place votes and one vote to win the MAC Tournament. The Brown and Gold finished 5-4-2 in conference play last season and last won the Mid-American Conference in 2013. The Broncos' last MAC Tournament title came back in 2015. 

SCOUTING THE NORSE
The Norse played in three exhibition contests, claiming a ties against Kentucky and Cincinnati, while defeating Shawnee State. NKU will benefit from returning its two leading scorers in Emilie Doersching and Lydia Self. Each had two goals last season. In net, Mickayla Kowalski returns after playing in 12 games, making 10 starts, last season. She finished the year with two wins, 31 saves and a 1.21 goals against average. 

GOALS GALORE
When the Broncos take the field to begin the 2023 season, they will do so with a wealth of returning scorers. WMU returns six of its top seven goal scorers from last season, including Jenna Blackburn and Reagan Wisser, who tied for the team lead with five each. Jaden Peck added three, while Emily Pagett, Bria Telemaque and Heidi Thomasma each finished the year with two goals. 

TRANSFER TRANSFORMATION
The Broncos brought in seven transfers, with Stephanie Currie (Toledo), Abby Werthman (Madonna), Jen Blitchok (Indiana), Shakira O'Malley (Northwestern Ohio), Madison Cotta (Mississippi State), Brielle Gomez (UIC), and Ava Wilberding (Northern Michigan) joining the mix. Blitchok (two goals) and Werthman each scored in the exhibition versus Wright State, while all seven transfers played in the game.