KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- The Western Michigan women's soccer team will look to move to 3-0 when it hosts Butler on Sunday afternoon at the WMU Soccer Complex. Kickoff will be at 1 PM and will be aired on wmubroncos.com. 

LAST TIME OUT
Western Michigan continued its winning ways by defeating Eastern Kentucky, 2-1, on Aug. 20. The Broncos received goals from Drew Martin and Jen Blitchok in the victory. 

Neither team could find much of an edge in the early going, but Reagan Wisser was fouled just outside the box with just over 10 minutes left in the first half. Martin promptly stepped up and slid a shot inside the right post to give the Broncos a one-goal lead. 

In the second half, WMU got some insurance, using some beautiful passing from Heidi Thomasma and Emily Pagett to set up Jen Blitchok, who netted the game-winning goal for the second consecutive game. The win marked WMU's first 2-0 start since 2020. 

BLITCHOK'S OPENING WEEKEND
In her first two games with the Brown and Gold, graduate transfer Jen Blitchok has proved to be a force. She has scored two game-winning goals in wins over Northern Kentucky and Eastern Kentucky, with both coming in the final five minutes of the game. 

This led to her being named the MAC Offensive Player of the Week on Aug. 22. The last Bronco to earn that honor was Reagan Wisser back on Sept. 13, 2022. 

SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS
Western Michigan is 0-3 all-time versus Butler, but this will be the first matchup played in Kalamazoo. In the previous three contests, the Bulldogs have outscored the Broncos, 11-0. 

Butler is 1-2 overall, but the Bulldogs have played a tough schedule thus far with both losses coming to ranked opponents and the lone win being a shutout. 

Offensively, the one to watch for will be Norah Jacomen, who leads the team in goals (3) and assists (1). In net, Anna Pierce and Emma Martin have each played in three games. Pierce has started all three and holds a 1-0-0 record. 

RED HOT START
Western Michigan opened the season with a pair of wins for the first time since the 2020-21 COVID-19 season. The Broncos have outscored opponents 3-1 in those opening two games. 

WMU opened the 2020-21 season with wins over Northern Illinois and Eastern Michigan and outscored those two teams, 5-0. The last time the Brown and Gold began a season with three straight wins came back in 2014.