Men's Soccer to Face IPFW and DePaul This Week
QUOTING RIDDLE
"The players have worked very hard in the preseason understanding and implementing the philosophies and principles we have educated them on, and we have been rewarded with two good victories," said WMU head coach Stu Riddle. "Confidence is high and we are ready for the challenge of facing two more excellent opponents this week."
WMU NATIONAL VOTE GETTER
After defeating Marygrove, 4-0, and stunning No. 25 Bradley, 2-1 in overtime, on the road last week, Western Michigan received one vote in this week's NSCAA/Continental Tire NCAA Division I Men's Soccer National Poll.
WELCOME ABOARD
Ten of Western Michigan's 12 first-year players saw action in last week's games, as the group of newcomers have made an immediate impact. Three Broncos, Ryan Lemasters, Marco Lobo and Mario Teixeira scored their first career goals in Brown & Gold. Lemasters had five points on the week, scoring a goal and assisting another against Margrove, then assisting both goals against No. 25 Bradley. Lobo had WMU's first goal Sunday against Bradley in the 27th minute, and Teixeira came up with the golden goal in overtime, striking in the 99th minute.
THE MAYER IS IN
Junior forward Oliver Mayer had a five-point day in the 4-0 win against Marygrove, scoring two goals and assisting a third. For his efforts, he was recognized as the Mid-American Conference Player of the Week by College Sports Madness.
LAST TIME AGAINST IPFW & DEPAUL
Western Michigan suffered a 2-1 loss last year against IPFW in Fort Wayne on Sept. 9. The Broncos got behind 2-0 after surrendering goals in the 29th and 55th minutes. Derek Schrauben had WMU's lone tally in the 75th minute. Keeper Sean Lewis made seven saves in the game. The last time the two squared off in Kalamazoo was in 2010, with WMU securing a 4-2 victory.
Western Michigan and DePaul battled to a 3-3 tie last year in an exhibition game in Kalamazoo, but the two have only faced each other twice in the regular season, the last time being in 1996. WMU and DePaul also tied that game, in Chicago, 2-2.
SCOUTING REPORT
IPFW played Michigan State to a 1-1 tie in its lone exhibition match of the preseason and dropped its season-opener at Detroit by a score of 3-0, Aug. 26. IPFW had a 8-10-2 record in 2011, and graduated leading scorer Max Touloute (13G, 9A). DePaul enters the week ranked No. 10 in the Great Lakes Region after defeating Illinois-Chicago 2-1 on Aug. 24. Sophomore Thiago Ganancio scored both goals in the victory to earn BIG EAST Conference Offensive Player of the Week honors. The Blue Demons host Western Illinois Wednesday prior to welcoming Western Michigan on Sunday. DePaul posted a 6-11-2 record in 2011.
LOOKING AHEAD
Western Michigan heads to Canisius Thursday, Sept. 6 and returns to Kalamazoo Saturday, Sept. 8. The weekend of Sept.7-9 will be Alumni Weekend, for more details on events planned for the weekend, click here.
