LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Western Michigan University men's soccer team opened the 2026 season with a 2-2 tie at RV Kentucky on Thursday night.
On the road to begin the year, the Broncos earned a solid result against the Kentucky Wildcats at Bell Soccer Complex. WMU put two goals in the back of the UK net through 90 minutes from midfielder
Liam Biggers and forward
Vitor Geromel.
"We're really happy to see the toughness the boys showed to see out the match," said Head Coach
Chad Wiseman following the result. "Kentucky is a real difficult place to play and once they equalized the game it became very tough. But we continued to show up and battled to the final whistle."
The opening goal from Biggers was the second of his career while Geormel scored his first goal both collegiately and wearing a Brown and Gold uniform. Western Michigan senior goalkeeper
Alex Lindewirth had a career night against the Wildcats, making eight saves on nine shots on goal.
The Bronco offense began their new season with a bang as sophomore midfielder
Liam Biggers scored within the first two minutes of the match. Off a cross through the box from forward
Sahel Yessen, Biggers made a strike with his right foot into the bottom left corner of the net.
"We couldn't have asked for a better start," Wiseman remarked. "Sahel worked his defender down the line, was able to get past him, and slipped a really nice ball into the box. Then Biggs buried it in the opening moments."
WMU then doubled its lead 21 minutes later as Geormel brought the ball to the top of the penalty arc, sailing a long shot into the top left of the goal. "Vitor's goal was an absolute bomb. He has that type of scoring in him. It's always nice to see your nine score to open the game," says Wiseman.
The Brown and Gold held the two score lead for 10 minutes until Kentucky broke through with a two on one opportunity. On either side only one more shot was taken in the last 11 minutes of the first half. Western Michigan found itself on defense for most of the second half, recording two shots over the final 45.
The Bronco defense couldn't completely hold off the Wildcats as the home team tied up the match in the 66
th minute. But keeper Lindewirth kept WMU within striking distance, recording the best match of his career with six saves in the final 30 minutes. "Lindy picked up right where he left off last season," says Wiseman of the career performance. "He had a fantastic game for us."
The Brown and Gold threatened in the final 10 minutes of the match, spending more time in their offensive third. Western Michigan put one more shot on target as Geromel put the ball at the bottom right of the net, where UK's keeper was able to make a final save of the night.
"Overall, we know we have to get better and I'm confident we will," says Wiseman. "We leave Kentucky pleased with the result but we're looking for more moving forward."
The Broncos remain on the road for their next game, heading to Dayton for a weekend match. It will be WMU's fourth straight season seeing the Flyers early in the schedule on Sunday, August 23. Kickoff from Dayton's Baujan Field is set for 7 p.m.
