MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – The Western Michigan women's soccer team downed its rival Central Michigan, 3-1, Thursday night at the CMU Soccer Complex. The victory moved the Broncos' record to 6-3-1 overall and 2-0-1 in Mid-American Conference play. 

"Great performance and effort as a team tonight from our players to get the result," head coach Lewis Robinson said. "We are really pleased with the offensive effort and defensive concentration needed to get a win here."

FIRST HALF
WMU controlled most of the play in the first half, earning 11 shots and seven corner kicks. It didn't take long for WMU to get going on offense, as the Broncos' first scoring chance came in the opening minute when Emily Pagett drilled a shot over the crossbar. 

Jen Blitchok would get another shot for WMU in the fifth minute, but it wasn't until the 11th minute where the Brown and Gold would break through. Madison Cotta found Blitchok who slipped a pass to Heidi Thomasma in the middle of the field. From there, Thomasma turned to her left and buried a shot in the upper left corner of the net to give Western Michigan a 1-0 lead. 

However, that lead would be short lived, as the Chippewas found a goal from Jenna Little just a couple minutes later. After that, WMU went back on the attack, and the Broncos were able to draw a foul in the box in the 14th minute. Jenna Blackburn stepped up to take the penalty kick and proceeded to put Western Michigan in front, 2-1. 

Now playing with a lead, the Brown and Gold would continue to control the pace of the game. Moments after Blackburn's goal, Abby Werthman and Blitchok each had a look at the net, but Werthman's shot went wide and Blitchok's was collected by CMU keeper Allison LaPoint.  

As the game moved to the middle portion of the half, Brielle Gomez and Cotta each had opportunities to increase the WMU lead. However, LaPoint and the CMU defense were able to stand tall. To close out the half, Blitchok, Stephanie Currie and Reagan Wisser would each get shots for the Broncos. However, nothing would find the back of the net, and WMU carried a 2-1 lead into the halftime break. 

SECOND HALF
It didn't take long for WMU to pick up where it left off offensively, as the first shot of the second half from Thomasma rang off the crossbar. In the opening 20 minutes, the Broncos continued to pressure the CMU back line, with shots from Thomasma, Blackburn, Pagett and Blitchok. But the Chippewas defense was able to keep the score at 2-1 in favor of the visitors. 

Throughout the middle portion of the second 45 minutes, WMU would find more shots, but it wasn't until the 79th minute that one would find the back of the net. Cotta sent a free kick into the box that was possessed by Wisser. She turned to her right and buried a shot into the top right corner of the net to extend WMU's lead to 3-1 with just over 10 minutes to play. 

In the final 10 minutes of action, CMU would get two shots, but WMU keeper Lauren Boafo and the Broncos' back line would shut things down and close out a 3-1 victory for the Brown and Gold. 

Overall, Western Michigan dominated the game, leading in shots (20-9), shots on goal (7-4) and corner kicks (13-2). 

UP NEXT
The Broncos will host Ball State on Sunday Oct. 1, with the game being part of alumni weekend. The game is set for 1 p.m. at the WMU Soccer Complex.