Men's Soccer Continues Road Stretch at Wright State, Michigan State
KALAMAZOO, Mich.- Western Michigan men's soccer travels to Wright State Tuesday, Sept. 18, (7 p.m.) and Michigan State Friday, Sept. 21 (5 p.m.) to close out a three-game road trip. Tuesday's game against Wright State will be streamed on the Horizon League Network.
BRONCOS OWN HIGHEST WINNING PERCENTAGE IN MAC
Western Michigan (6-1-0) has won six of its first seven games and maintains the highest winning percentage (.857) in the Mid-American Conference. Akron (4-1-2) has a .714 winning percentage, while newest MAC men's soccer affiliate West Virginia (4-2-1) has a .642 winning percentage. With 12 games left in the regular season, WMU has already matched its win total from 2011.
QUOTING RIDDLE
"I have been pleased with the progress we have made so far this season and we will get a good gauge of where we are really at as a unit with these matches against two teams whose results to date don't fairly reflect their quality," said WMU head coach Stu Riddle.
TALE OF THE TAPE
Western Michigan has scored 15 goals this season and allowed just three goals against. Four of WMU's six wins have been shutouts, while in their only loss (1-0 at Canisius, Sept. 6), the Broncos failed to score. Ten different Broncos have found the back of the net this year, with Marco Lobo leading the team with four goals. Western Michigan has outshot its opponents, 108-64.
BETWEEN THE PIPES
Junior Sean Lewis has shown tremendous growth in his role as goalkeeper. Lewis has started every game this season and played every half but one. Lewis has made 18 saves for a .857 save percentage and has allowed just three goals for a 0.46 goals-against average.
LAST TIME OUT
Western Michigan defeated Valparaiso, 1-0, on the road Friday, Sept. 14. Kyle Farris one-timed a flick-on in the box from Erik Kelly off a long throw-in from Yllson Asani for the game-winning goal in the 33rd minute. Keeper Sean Lewis made five saves in the shutout.
SCOUTING REPORT
Wright State is off to a 2-5-0 start in 2012, and has dropped three of its last four games. The Raiders' two wins this season have been over Davidson (3-1) and IUPUI (3-0). WMU is just 3-7 all-time against Wright State, however has won two of the last three meetings, and pulled off a 1-0 win in Kalamazoo last year. WMU will be looking for its first-ever win on the road vs. Wright State.
Michigan State maintains a 2-5-1 record, posting wins over Bowling Green (2-1) and Providence (3-2). The Spartans have scored just six goals and allowed 10 this season. Adam Montague is the only player with multiple goals, with two. Michigan State has dominated the all-time series with WMU, owning a 26-2-8 record against the Broncos. WMU narrowly fell in East Lansing last year, 2-1. The Broncos will be looking for their first win over their Big Ten rivals since Oct. 10, 1993, a 2-0 victory in East Lansing.
