ST. LOUIS -- Entering his 10th season at the helm of the Western Michigan soccer program, head coach Chad Wiseman leads his squad into the 2023 campaign with his eyes set on WMU's first Missouri Valley Conference championship. On Thursday, the MVC announced that the Broncos are projected to finish second in the conference with 75 points and three first-place votes.  

The Poll: Missouri State (78 points, 6 FPV), WMU (75 points, 3 FPV). Bowling Green (55 points), Evansville (50 points), Belmont (41 points), UIC (35 points), Drake (34 points), Northern Illinois (25 points) and Bradley (12 points). 

Wiseman has accumulated 106 wins in 187 games coached during his WMU tenure. Starting his 10th season with the Broncos, he is on pace to become the fastest coach in program history to earn 110 wins and needs only 20 victories to become the winningest coach in program history. Blake Glass currently holds the records for the most program wins with 125 and is the fastest to win 110 games (through 271 contests). Wiseman has put the Western Michigan soccer program on the map after leading his team to two Mac Championship titles and two Sweet 16 appearances over the last six seasons. This past February, Wiseman agreed to a contract extension through the 2026 season. 

WMU returns an experienced roster with over 15 upper classmen including: Charlie Sharp, Dylan Sing, Jonathan Robinson, and Jaylen Shannon. In the poll, Both Sharp and Sing were awarded Preseason All-MVC honors. Last season the Broncos top goal scorer, Sharp, led the Broncos with a career-best 11 goals in 21 matches. Sharp's next goal will put him in a three-player tie with Tom Oatly (2004-07) and Mosen Khani (1979-82) for the third most goals in program history at 24 career goals. As for Sing, the forward notched personal-bests all around last season. The fifth year tallied six goals and seven assists in 21 starts in 2022 and was ranked third on the team in both categories.  

After their final exhibition match at Northwestern tomorrow at 6:00 PM, the Brown and Gold will open the 2023 campaign on the road against the University of Vermont on Thursday, August 24, at 6:00 PM.