Box Score KALAMAZOO, Mich.- The Western Michigan men's soccer team posted its seventh shutout of the season, improving its record to 6-1-2 with a 1-0 victory over visiting St. Mary's (CA) Saturday. Senior defenseman
Connor Furgason had the lone goal of the game, heading in a corner kick in the 28th minute.
WMU's seven shutouts ties for third most in school history and is just two shy of tying the program record of nine, accomplished in 1988 and 1989.
Furgason's goal was his second of the season, giving the Broncos a 1-0 advantage before the half. Senior
Carlos Suarez took the corner kick from the right side, booting a left-footed delivery into the box. Furgason climbed above the crowd and headed the ball down to the left of St. Mary's keeper Andrew Konstantino.
“I thought we came out in the first half with a lot of energy and created a lot of good scoring chances,” said WMU head coach
Chad Wiseman. “We put St. Mary's under a lot of pressure and Furgason did a great job getting on the end of the corner kick to find a goal.
“I thought
Greg Timmer gave a complete performance in the midfield,” Wiseman added. “
Chase Rau was solid in goal punching away many of their set pieces. St. Mary's has a very direct style of play putting a lot of long balls on our back line. We stood tall the second half and saw out the result.”
Western Michigan was fortunate to avoid what would have been the game-tying goal after a foul in the 87th minute gave St. Mary's a dangerous free kick at the edge of the 18. Will Kendall hit a well-struck ball that curved over the Bronco defensive wall but hit the top left corner of the cross bar.
St. Mary's (3-7-1) managed more shots than Western Michigan, 10 to 5, but the Broncos largely controlled possession throughout the game. WMU took nine corner kicks and surrendered just three to the Gaels.
Rau played a complete game in goal for Western Michigan and made one save to pick up his first win (1-1-1) of the season.
Western Michigan is on the road for its next two contests, opening Mid-American Conference play at West Virginia on Friday, Oct. 9. The Broncos then square off with in-state rival Michigan State in East Lansing on Oct. 13.
