Box Score
KALAMAZOO, Mich.- Freshman C. J. Brown scored the game-winning goal in the 83rd minute as Western Michigan (2-2) earned a 2-1 victory over IPFW (1-3) Sunday afternoon at the WMU Soccer Complex. Senior Tom Oatley recorded the Broncos' first tally, while freshman Ko Yamamoto and senior Terry Dowding both assisted each goal.
The Broncos had to battle from behind in a tightly officiated game, which saw a total of 47 fouls and seven cautions issued. IPFW had taken an early 1-0 lead in the third minute when Evan Coss played the ball in front of the net and Chas Parry came flying in to head the ball in for a goal, but WMU responded with two unanswered scores to seal the win.
Western Michigan evened the score before the half, when Yamamoto found Dowding in the box, who slotted it over to Oatley for the finish in the 31st minute.
The Broncos missed out on some excellent scoring opportunities in the second half, before they finally netted the game winner. In the 53rd minute, freshman Jordan Miller crossed the ball from the right side and an IPFW defender was whistled for taking Dowding down in the box on the play. Dowding was awarded a penalty kick, but his strike was low and to the left and Mastodon goalkeeper Josh Howell managed to make the save.
In the 67th minute, Yamamoto had a shot ring off the crossbar. The deflection came to the head of sophomore Shaun Clements, but Howell again came through with a big save. Minutes later Oatley fired a shot that miscued off the right post.
WMU finally capitalized in the 82nd minute when Yamamoto found Dowding again in the box, who slid the ball to Brown who fired it into the top of the net. The score was a collegiate first for Brown and the two assists were Yamamoto's first career points.
Head coach Chris Karwoski was very pleased with the interaction between Dowding and Yamamoto on the day stating, “Terry, all four games all season has been very active. This is the best consistently I have seen him play in his career because he's confident, he's fit, and he's got a good work rate. He's always had a good work rate but I think he's a little more confident in what he's doing. He's holding the ball up a little better, he's getting turned and releasing it.
“I've watched Ko play for the last year and a half as we recruited him. He's got great vision, his passes are accurate and weighted well, they are strong enough and they get through space properly into a guy's run and he's unselfish.” Sophomore
Casey Aubil earned the win in goal for the Broncos, making one save. WMU out-shot IPFW, 26-9, placing 12 of those on goal.
Western Michigan is back in action on Friday, Sept. 14, when it travels to IUPUI for a 5 p.m. contest.
