KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The #11 Western Michigan men's soccer team will host Missouri Valley Conference rival Missouri State University (Receiving Votes) on Saturday, September 28, at WMU Soccer Complex. The game will be available on Bronco All-Access. For tickets, visit https://wmubroncos.evenue.net/events/SOC.
Last Time Out
The men's soccer team defeated MVC foe University of Evansville 2-1 at WMU Soccer Complex on Sunday, September 22, behind goals from redshirt junior forward Roni Sylejmani and junior midfielder Carson Hodgson. Sylejmani and Hodgson's goals continued WMU's early offensive outburst to the season: In the win, the forward and the midfielder became the third and fourth Broncos this year to score at least three goals.
WMU's Hot Start / Unbeaten Streak
With the Brown and Gold's 2-1 win over The Purple Aces, 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. WMU enters its matchup with Missouri State on a nation-leading 30-game unbeaten streak dating back to Sunday, August 27, 2023.
One of many players propelling the Brown and Gold to their fast start is graduate student midfielder Owen Smith. Entering the match with Missouri State, WMU midfielder Owen Smith is second in the NCAA with seven assists and counting. Despite only playing in nine games, Smith's next assist will impressively tie him for the fifth most assists registered by a Bronco in a single season.
Scouting The Bears
Senior forward Jesus Barea paces the Bears with nine goals and 19 points through seven games (seven starts) this season. In the assist department, redshirt senior forward James Jennings leads Missouri State with three assists behind seven appearances (one start). Defensively, in two starts (three appearances) this year, redshirt senior goalkeeper Will Lowry has allowed only one goal in 211 minutes of game time.
Series History
The Broncos and Bears share a 2-2 record against each other dating back to 1991. In their first year in the Missouri Valley Conference in 2023, the Brown and Gold swept the Bears with a 2-1 win on the road behind second-half goals from WMU alumni Tom Cooklin and Charlie Sharp on Sunday, October 22. The men's soccer team would later defeat the Bears 2-1 on Saturday, November 11, in the MVC Tournament Final, snapping MSU's streak of three consecutive years of claiming the MVC Tournament title.
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.
