KALAMAZOO, Mich. --The ninth ranked Western Michigan men's soccer team continued its amazing start to the 2024 campaign with a 2-1 win over Missouri Valley Conference foe University of Evansville at WMU Soccer Complex Sunday afternoon. In the victory, redshirt junior Roni Sylejmani and junior Carson Hodgson led the Broncos in the scoring department with a goal apiece. 

"I would like to thank all our alumni who were in town through all the festivities this weekend. It means a lot to the program, thank you."  Said WMU men's soccer head coach Chad Wiseman. "It was a great day at The Farm for alumni weekend. The women got the day off to a flying start (6-0 victory over Miami (OH), and their six goals were fantastic. At home, in conference play, you have to secure three points and we did just that." 

The men's soccer team would continue the weekend scoring barrage at WMU Soccer Complex Sunday afternoon with two goals to continue MVC play. Sylejmani put WMU ahead with the first goal of the match in the 21-minute versus Evansville to extend his season high. With the forward's goal, WMU added a fourth player to score at least three goals thus far in 2024.  

After intermission, Hodgson doubled the Bronco lead in the 59th minute, off an assist from teammate Carter Cormier. Hodgson's goal marked his third of the season and ninth of his career. The Broncos have consistently flexed their offensive and defensive prowess in 2024, as the team has outscored their opponents 20-7 through nine games into the regular season. 

The Purple Aces would tack on a goal during the 63rd minute of the match. However, the Brown and Gold's defense would not break and the Broncos prevailed 2-1 and extended their unbeaten streak to 30 games overall and home unbeaten streak to 19 games at WMU Soccer Complex.  

"Our attack created some great looks at goal today both in the run of play and set pieces. We needed to find the third, we didn't and Evansville found a way back in.  Defensively we had to deal with crosses, over and over. I thought we did well in those moments.  Carson finds the game-winner; he had a nice match today." Concluded Wiseman.

With WMU's win, the Broncos are now the last program that reached the Sweet Sixteen in 2023 that remains unbeaten. Earlier today, #12 Hoftsra was defeated by Monmoth 2-1, which snapped the team's 14-game unbeaten run.  


Historical Notes: 

The men's soccer team has opened their first nine games of the regular season unbeaten for the first time since 2017. The 2017 squad (WMU's first ever team to reach the Sweet 16), started the first 10 games of their campaign with nine wins and one tie. With WMU's win Sunday, the men's soccer team extended its overall (and program best) unbeaten streak to a 30th game without a loss.  

Today, team captain Landon Fisher became the eighth Bronco to make 70 plus appearances for the Brown and Gold.  

Up Next: 

The Brown and Gold will host Missouri State University at WMU Soccer Complex on Saturday, September 28, at noon.