DAYTON, Ohio- Western Michigan men's soccer fought back from an early deficit to post a 2-1 double overtime victory at Wright State Tuesday. WMU upped its record to 7-1-0 on the season, marking the program's most wins in the first eight games since 1984, when the team got off to a 7-0-1 start.
Wright State's Brett Elder gave the host Raiders a 1-0 lead just before the midway point, lofting a long ball over the top in the 43rd minute. Western Michigan responded with a second-half goal from Shane Lyons in the 68th minute and clinched the victory on a goal by Kyle Farris in the 101st minute.
"We saw some terrific character traits from this team tonight," said Bronco head coach Stu Riddle. "To come back after a disappointing first-half showing and play as well as we did for the rest of the game speaks volumes about the desire, determination and quality of this group."
The win was just the Broncos' fourth ever in 11 meetings against Wright State and the first ever in Dayton.
The goal for Lyons was his first of the season. First-year standouts Marco Lobo and Ryan Lemasters hooked up for a nice combination and Lyons smashed home a left-footed strike from the left elbow of the box into the top corner. It was Lobo's second assist and Lemasters' team-leading fifth.
Lyons, a senior forward from Plainwell, Mich., was the squad's leading scorer the last two seasons (six goals in 2011, seven in 2010), and has been working his way back after a season-ending injury sidelined him 11 games into last year. Lyons appeared in the first two matches of 2012, and then missed the next four games, before coming off the bench last Friday at Valparaiso.
For Farris, also a Plainwell, Mich., product, it was his second goal in as many games and fourth career. Oliver Mayer dribbled through defenders and connected with Farris on the run in the middle of box. Farris finished as the keeper came off his line. Lyons also recorded an assist on the goal.
Junior goalkeeper Sean Lewis made a season-high six saves in the winning effort, stopping four shots in the first half and one in the second, as well as one in the second overtime.
"Every single one of the lads deserves praise for the way they have handled themselves this season, but our feet are firmly on the ground and we are excited to play Michigan State on Friday," Riddle said.
Western Michigan entered the week ranked No. 7 in the Great Lakes Region and in the top 10 in the nation for goals-against average and in the top 25 for scoring offense and total goals scored.
The Broncos conclude a three-game road swing at Big Ten counterpart Michigan State Friday, taking on the Spartans at 5 p.m. in East Lansing.
GAME HIGHLIGHTS BELOW
