Skip To Main Content

Western Michigan University Athletics

WMU vs. Kentucky
Ashley Blanchard, WMU Photographer
2
Winner Kentucky UK (1-0-0, 0-0-0)
1
Western Mich. WMU (0-1-0, 0-0-0)
Winner
Kentucky UK
(1-0-0, 0-0-0)
2
Final
1
Western Mich. WMU
(0-1-0, 0-0-0)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Kentucky UK 1 1 2
Western Mich. WMU 0 1 1

Game Recap: Men's Soccer |

Late match rally comes just short for #20 Western Michigan in season opener

KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The #20 Western Michigan men's soccer team tied the match up in the final 17 minutes but fell just short of a draw in a 2-1 final to the Kentucky Wildcats.

"Overall, I thought our performance on the day was poor," said Head Coach Chad Wiseman following the match. "We didn't match Kentucky's toughness in the 50-50 battles, and that's disappointing because I feel that's in our Bronco DNA."

Western Michigan's offense struggled to get going on Thursday night, not recording a shot through the first half at WMU Soccer Complex. But graduate goalkeeper Timi Adams held strong for the first 20 minutes of the match, making two quick back-to-back saves in the 12th minute. The Wildcats broke through in the 22nd minute to take a 1-0 lead halfway through the first half.

"When you look at their [Kentucky's] goals, we had defensive mistakes in the worst kind of way. We got what we deserved."

The Broncos had a stronger start to the second half as sophomore defender Christian Shannon recorded the first shot of the season in the 48th minute. With a chance just in front of the six, Shannon sent a shot just over the net to get Western Michigan on the stats sheet. Over the next 20 minutes the Broncos added two more shots while Adams made a highlight reel save against Wildcat forward Isaiah Chisolm.



Only eight minutes later, Western Michigan was able to notch its first goal of the season. In the 75th minute, junior defender Braxton Arpachinda found the back of the net for his fourth career goal. Arpachinda used a right footed shot from the left side to put the ball in the bottom left corner for a 1-1 scored.

But Kentucky returned the game to a one goal deficit just under two minutes later. Redshirt senior forward Connor Burkett had the Bronco's last chance of the night from the far-left side of the box, hitting the side of the net.

"We have a lot of learning to do as a team. We never looked like the team that was going to win the game."

UP NEXT
Western Michigan welcomes its first ranked opponent of the season to the farm on Sunday afternoon. No. 12 Dayton comes to Kalamazoo as the Broncos look to keep their nine-match series unbeaten streak intact. Kick-off from WMU Soccer Complex is set for noon on Sunday, Aug. 24.
 
Print Friendly Version