KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- The Western Michigan women's soccer team will open MAC play against Miami (OH) on Thursday night. The game is set for 7 PM at Bobby Kramig Field in Oxford, Ohio. 

LAST TIME OUT
Western Michigan picked up its fourth straight win, knocking off DePaul, 2-0, on Sept. 13 at the WMU Soccer Complex. 

Avery Peters and Meredith Vance tallied goals in the match, while Drew Martin posted an assist. In net, Reagan Sulaver made two saves to earn her second career shutout. Vance went on to earn MAC Defensive Player of the Week honors. 

RETURN OF THE MAC
The Broncos will open MAC play on Thursday night looking to maintain their status as the best team in the league. WMU was picked first in the preseason coaches poll, receiving 135 points and eight first-place votes. 

The Brown and Gold haven't lost a game in conference play since the 2022 season. Western Michigan is the only team in MAC women's soccer history to go undefeated in league play in back-to-back seasons. 

WMU enters Thursday's action with a 23-match unbeaten streak in MAC play. The last MAC team to beat the Broncos was Ohio back on Oct. 23, 2022. 

THE FIRST OF MANY
WMU has been a strong offensive team so far this season, and that is due to the depth of talent they have throughout the lineup. 

That depth was on full display last Sunday afternoon against DePaul, as Avery Peters and Meredith Vance tallied their first career goals. Peters took advantage of a Blue Demon turnover and buried a shot into the back of the net for the game-winning goal. Vance then found some open space in the second half to put the game out of reach. 

The two midfielders have played in every game this season, combining for six points on two goals and two assists. 

SCOUTING THE REDHAWKS
Miami is off to a strong start in 2025, winning three of its last four games, including the team's MAC opener against Northern Illinois. 

The Broncos trail the all-time series 11-16-2, but they have won the last two meetings by a combined score of 7-0. WMU is 7-3-0 over the last 10 matches against the RedHawks.

Leading the way for Miami has been Millie Cook and Katie O'Malley. Cook has six points on three goals, while O'Malley has chipped in two goals and two assists. 

In net, Dominique Popa has started all seven games. She has a 4-3-0 record to go along with a 1.00 goals against average and .696 save percentage. Popa has 16 saves and three shutouts on the season.