EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The Western Michigan men's soccer team won its second MVC Championship in three years on Saturday night in a battle with the Evansville Purple Aces.

Graduate defender Mathieu Beauvain was the hero for the Broncos on Saturday night in the River City. Beauvain scored his first goal with WMU in the 73rd minute to give the Brown and Gold a 1-0 championship victory. While Beauvain had the score, goalkeeper Alex Lindewirth put on a performance in net with a seven-save shutout of the Purple Aces.

It was a defensive first 45 minutes in Evansville at Arad McCutchan Stadium. The teams mostly clogged the mid-third, trading possession back and forth. While each team recorded at least a shot, there were no shots on goal in the opening half. The Aces recorded the first shot of the match early in the sixth minute, that the Broncos were able to pressure into going wide. WMU also blocked a UE shot seven minutes later for Evansville's final opportunity of the half. The Brown and Gold took momentum towards the end of the first 45, recording their first shot and having two corner kick opportunities in the final 15 minutes.

The second half was night and day from the first, with both sides immediately getting into their offensive thirds. Lindewirth made the first save of the match in the 49th minute from his knees off an Aces free kick. Western Michigan only minutes later put its first shot on goal as defender Braxton Arpachinda launched one to the right side on a free kick. Lindewirth then made another save in the 59th minute on a point-blank shot from UE to the bottom left corner of the net.

The Broncos were the team to break through in the second half in the 73rd minute with the only goal of the match. A free kick outside the penalty area came in towards the net and was headed out by an Evansville player. WMU got the ball back in where forward Piero Sabroso headed the goal into the six. In the sixth, Beauvain was able to make a left bicycle kick, sailing the ball past the Aces keeper into the left side of the net.

After the goal, UE put on the offensive pressure, attacking the Brown and Gold's defensive third. Western Michigan was able to fend off nine shots from Evansville in the final 17 minutes, including four saves for Lindewirth. Despite a big scrum in front of the Broncos' goal that ended up in an ejection for Arpachinda, WMU was able to keep its shutout intact.

The Brown and Gold had four players named to the MVC Tournament team, including MVP Braxton Arpachinda. Also named to the MVC Tournament team for Western Michigan were Beauvain, Lindewirth, and forward Roni Sylejmani. The Broncos will learn their NCAA Tournament opponent on Monday afternoon during the selection show at 1 p.m. EST for their fourth straight tournament appearance.