KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- The Western Michigan women's soccer team will begin postseason play on Thursday afternoon against Kent State. The Broncos and Golden Flashes will take the field at 2:30 PM at the WMU Soccer Complex in second of two MAC Tournament Semifinal matches. 

BRONCOS MAKE HISTORY
With its win over Northern Illinois last Thursday, Western Michigan became the first team in MAC Women's Soccer history to finish back-to-back seasons with an unbeaten record in conference play. 

The Broncos haven't lost a conference game since October of 2022. WMU won the conference by seven points this season. 

BRINGING HOME THE HARDWARE
The Mid-American Conference announced its annual specialty awards and All-MAC Teams on Tuesday afternoon. The Broncos were well represented. 

Jen Blitchok ran away with the Offensive Player of the Year award and earned First Team All-MAC honors for the second consecutive season. Coach Lewis Robinson and his staff were named the Coaching Staff of the Year after earning back-to-back undefeated seasons in conference play. 

Joining Blitchok on the All-MAC First Team were Madi Canada and Heidi Thomasma. Abby Werthman was the lone Bronco on the All-MAC Second Team. 

That quartet of players spearheaded another strong 2024 season, as they have combined for 70 points on 24 goals and 22 assists. Defensively, WMU has allowed just 13 goals this season. 

RECORDS ARE MADE TO BE BROKEN
The Broncos have had quite the season in 2024, clinching another MAC Championship. Along the way, WMU has broken various records, including the longest unbeaten streak in program history and most points and assists in a single-season in program history.  

Entering Thursday's match, Western Michigan's unbeaten streak sits at 14 games, which smashes the previous record of 11 set last season. 

Points wise, WMU broke the 2003 team's record of 122 points. More impressive is the Broncos broke the record in five fewer games. In terms of assists, Western Michigan is well beyond the previous record of 38. Entering Thursday's match, the Brown and Gold are sitting at 47 assists. 

SO WE MEET AGAIN
Western Michigan and Kent State have become pretty familiar with each other over the last couple of years, with this being the fourth match between the two programs in the last two seasons. 

The Broncos beat the Golden Flashes in the regular season before falling to them in the MAC Tournament later in the season last year. This year, WMU again beat KSU in the regular season and will have a chance to avenge last season's loss. 

The Brown and Gold will do so with Callie Cunningham, who is a transfer from KSU. She scored the game-winning goal against the Broncos in last year's semifinal match.