KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- After posting a 3-1-3 record in non-conference play, the Western Michigan women's soccer team will begin the Mid-American Conference season at Ohio on Thursday afternoon. The Broncos and Bobcats are set to square off at 4 PM at Chessa Field.
LAST TIME OUT
Western Michigan was able to earn a 1-1 draw at DePaul this past Sunday. The result helped the Broncos finish the non-conference schedule with a 3-1-3 record, including wins over Northern Kentucky, Marquette and Detroit Mercy.
HIGH EXPECTATIONS
Prior to the season, Western Michigan was selected as the favorite to win the Mid-American Conference. The Broncos are the defending MAC Champions.
WMU received eight first-place votes and topped the poll with 116 points. The Brown and Gold also earned six votes to win the conference tournament.
Ball State (101 points), Ohio (90), Kent State (88), Buffalo (86), Bowling Green (84), Northern Illinois (60), Toledo (50), Miami (47), Eastern Michigan (29), Akron (23) and Central Michigan (18) rounded out the poll.
BLITCHOK'S RUN AT HISTORY
After scoring nine goals a season ago, graduate student
Jen Blitchok has already found the back of the net seven times this season.
Her nine goals last season were the third most in a single season in program history. The record is 12, set by Emma Kahn back in 2015. Blitchok currently leads the MAC in goals and is third in points.
SCOUTING THE BOBCATS
Ohio has had a strong start to the season, dropping just one game thus far. That loss came against Michigan State, which has been ranked in the top-10 for most of the season.
The Bobcats and Broncos tied in Kalamazoo last season, and Ohio leads the all-time series 14-8-6. WMU has historically struggled in Athens, winning just three road games all-time against Ohio. Western Michigan's last road win against Ohio came back in 2015.
Ohio is led by Jaimason Brooker and Scout Murray, who have combined for 17 points this season. Murray leads the team with four goals, while Brooker is the team leader in assists with five.
In net, Celeste Sloma has been solid in seven starts this season. She boasts a 5-1-0 record, 0.62 goals against average and .826 save percentage.
