Box Score KALAMAZOO, Mich.- Senior defender
Sean Hazen scored his first career goal to help No. 24 ranked Western Michigan fight back from a 1-0 deficit and tie Dayton, 1-1, Sunday at the WMU Soccer Complex. With the result, WMU's record moves to 5-0-1 on the season, having yet to suffer a defeat through its first six contests.
The goal allowed to Dayton was the first the Bronco defense has conceded this fall. Entering Sunday's matchup, Western Michigan was one of only two teams in the nation, joining Washington, that had not allowed a goal.
The shutout streak ended in the 11th minute of the game, when the Flyers' Amass Amankona fired a rocket low to the left of diving WMU keeper
Drew Shepherd.
“I was a little disappointed with how we started the match,” said WMU head coach
Chad Wiseman, “We seemed to hesitate in many areas defensively. Dayton scored a nice goal, Amass is a very good player, we knew that before the game and he certainly confirmed that during the game.”
Hazen made sure the Broncos' undefeated streak remained intact however, tallying the equalizer for Western Michigan before the end of the first half. Hazen ran on to a loose ball in the box played on by fellow senior
Nick Wysong and buried his chance low to the left in the 39th minute.
Wysong continued his impressive line of recording a point in every game he has played in this season, either scoring or assisting a goal in his five appearances.
“We were able to find a goal against the run of play late in the first half,” Wiseman said. “Congratulations to
Sean Hazen for scoring his first goal as a Bronco.”
The Broncos survived a rare in-direct free kick in the box in the first half. Shepherd lined up a six-man wall on the right and Dayton's Kissima Bojang pushed his shot wide left.
Just minutes before Hazen found the back of the net for WMU, senior
Sean Conerty nearly caught the Dayton defense on its heels. Conerty volleyed an absolute missile back on frame from the left corner of the 18 that forced UD keeper Justin Saliba to make a heads up save.
After taking four shots in the first half, Western Michigan increased the pressure and fired off nine in the second half. Late at the end of regulation, senior
Carlos Suarez looked to break free and have clear path to goal, but was tripped up in the box and no foul was issued.
Shepherd was replaced by senior goalkeeper
Chase Rau at halftime and Rau went on to play the final 65 minutes. Both Bronco goalies made two saves.
“The second-half was a different story I thought,” Wiseman said. “We were absolutely phenomenal on the first 25 minutes the only thing we didn't do is reward ourselves for all the chances that we created. We missed two or three point-blank opportunities to put the game away, we lacked the quality in those moments.
“At the end of the day, it was not the result we were hoping for, but also not a loss. It was a competitive soccer match and I'd like to thank all the Alumni that came back for Alumni Weekend. It certainly was a great weekend for Bronco Soccer."
Western Michigan closes out its current four-game homestand on Wednesday, hosting Valparaiso at 4:30 p.m. The Broncos are on the road at Detroit Sept. 30.
