NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The nationally ranked number four Western Michigan University men's soccer team begins its two-game road trip at Belmont University on Sunday, September 15. The match also serves as the 2024 Missouri Valley Conference opener for the reigning MVC champions. Kickoff is slated for 2:00 PM ET and the game will be on ESPN+.
Last Time Out
On Sunday, September 8, on Military Appreciation Day, the men's soccer team captured a 5-1 victory over Air Force at WMU Soccer Complex. In the win, five different Broncos (Noah James,
Carson Hodgson,
Owen Smith,
Braxton Arpachinda, and
Alek Markovski) scored against the Falcons. The group became the first pair of five teammates to score in a match for the first time since September 14, 2019.
Scouting The Bruins
Over Belmont's first six games of 2024, the Bruins have collected two wins, two losses, and two ties. Despite their 2-2-2 record, the Bruins have been lethal at home over the years and recently extended their home unbeaten streak to six games without a loss: To conclude August, Belmont defeated Southern Indiana 3-0 (August 25) and Northern Kentucky 2-1 (August 29). Overall, since the start of the 2018 season, the Bruins have boasted a 27-8-10 record at home. To begin the 2024 campaign, Belmont is led by senior midfielder AJ Chastonay in the final third of the field, Chastonay paces the Bruins with 11 points, behind five goals and one assist in six games (six starts).
WMU's Unbeaten Streak & Exceptional Start to 2024
The Brown and Gold enter the contest with a three-game winning streak coinciding with a phenomenal 27-game unbeaten streak. The last time the Broncos received a blemish to their overall record was over one calendar year ago, on August 24, 2023, at #12 University of Vermont. By maintaining their unbeaten streak, the men's soccer team has started the 2024 campaign with a 5-0-1 record, marking the team's best start to the regular season since 2017. Six games into the 2024 season, WMU has outscored its opponents 16 to four behind two five-goal games and two shutouts over top-10 opponents.
Series History
The Broncos and Bruins will face off for the second time in series history Sunday. Last year, in their inaugural match, WMU defeated the Bruins 5-0 on Senior Day behind two goals from Hodgson and three combined goals from alumni Charlie Sharp and Dylan Sing.
For ticket information, click the link here, and for all things WMU men's soccer, make sure to follow the team's socials on Instagram @wmu_menssoccer, X, @wmumenssoccer, and Facebook @wmumenssoccer.
