The unofficial online home for fans of the Western Michigan University Broncos. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

Soccer team started the season with a 2-0 win over Loyola Chicago . I watched most of the game, and we looked somewhat unpolished and sloppy. Probably a product of being so early. Loyola only had one shot, so defensively we were obviously doing the job. But didn't look nearly the same as last season in terms of ball control. We lost a lot, but nevertheless are ranked #8 in one poll, and #14 in another. Any win is a good win, and we certainly didn't look "bad".

I really hope we put together another great season.

Not as comprehensive of a win as you would expect from a team ranked as highly as WMU. Frankly I was astonished that we were ranked so highly given what we lost, but I certainly hope the coaches/pollsters know better than I do.

I'd be surprised if we top last year's season.

I bet every team, though, is saying they look sloppy........You are right: It's early in the season.

(08-24-2018 06:43 PM)brovol Wrote:  Soccer team started the season with a 2-0 win over Loyola Chicago . I watched most of the game, and we looked somewhat unpolished and sloppy. Probably a product of being so early. Loyola only had one shot, so defensively we were obviously doing the job. But didn't look nearly the same as last season in terms of ball control. We lost a lot, but nevertheless are ranked #8 in one poll, and #14 in another. Any win is a good win, and we certainly didn't look "bad".

I really hope we put together another great season.

Thank you for the update.

(08-24-2018 06:52 PM)wmubroncopilot Wrote:  Not as comprehensive of a win as you would expect from a team ranked as highly as WMU. Frankly I was astonished that we were ranked so highly given what we lost, but I certainly hope the coaches/pollsters know better than I do.

Exactly my thought. It's cool being ranked; whether we deserve it or not. Lol.

So is this what being a U of M fan is like?

(08-24-2018 08:42 PM)Bronco XXVIII Wrote:  So is this what being a U of M fan is like?

Haha. I was just thinking that it would be kind of like WMU being ranked preseason 2017 after losing Terrell and Davis among others. Bye, Shepherd and Bock IMO are comparable losses. I will be extremely impressed with Wiseman and the team if they could grab another NCAA bid this year, though I have no doubt they will continue to be in the top tier of the MAC.

Broncos fell 1-0 at DePaul earlier today.

Blue Demons won 6 games last year and were unanimously picked last in the preseason Big East poll.

I didn't catch the game but from the looks of it we were soundly outplayed in the second half.

(08-28-2018 01:58 AM)wmubroncopilot Wrote:  Broncos fell 1-0 at DePaul earlier today.

Blue Demons won 6 games last year and were unanimously picked last in the preseason Big East poll.

I didn't catch the game but from the looks of it we were soundly outplayed in the second half.

I too missed the game, but saw the box score. It tends to affirm concerns that we might have been over ranked. Getting a stinker early can put things in perspective and motivate. I have confidence in our coach. Hope we get it back on track.

Broncos have won three straight (Drake, Cincy, UMBC) to even the record at 4-4. Drake and UMBC are solid teams so hopefully that's a springboard.

In other news Brandon Bye scored his first MLS goal last night: https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018/09/1...ional-goal

Coach Wiseman is a great coach, he'll get it sorted out. Remember, we lost a lot of talent from a well-oiled machine. It'll take time for the new players to get in synch with the veterans. We'll get there.

I agree, we are lucky to have Wiseman, and he is building a solid program. We were over-ranked to start the season though, as this group, after losing so much from last years team, wasn't a top 10-15 team nationally. And we proved it to start the year. Hope we mesh, and become good enough to make a run for the MACC. Not sure how much we will lose after this year, but if not too much, maybe another great season next year.

Two freshmen score as WMU grabs a nice RPI top 100 road win at Green Bay.

WMU sits at 7-5-2, just picked up a tough road draw at a pretty darn good SIU-E.

This is clearly not the same level of team as last year, but the MAC is having a great year sitting at 3rd in conference RPI, and WMU is 48th which projects them as just missing the NCAAs (2nd team out). If they can come up with results down the stretch this team might just sneak in in a reloading year which would be awesome for this program.

(10-15-2018 09:35 AM)wmubroncopilot Wrote:  This is clearly not the same level of team as last year, but the MAC is having a great year sitting at 3rd in conference RPI, and WMU is 48th which projects them as just missing the NCAAs (2nd team out). If they can come up with results down the stretch this team might just sneak in in a reloading year which would be awesome for this program.

Not super-familiar with NCAA soccer, but just missing the Tourney at a 7-5-2 pace is crazy.

Agreed. WMU put together a nice schedule in the nonconference and other MAC teams have played above their normal level as well.

What the Broncos lack is signature wins which would kill them with a committee like the basketball one, but in soccer they basically follow RPI strictly. Will be interesting.

This year's team is a good team, but the difference is not having Brandon Bye. He was that little bit extra that made a good team a great team last season.

Brandon Bye was a big loss, of course, but we lost some other excellent players too, including a tremendous goalie. Our preseason ranking was far too high in light of all the players we lost, but the team seems to be coming together. Would be nice if they could make a run in the MAC tournament (if they qualify).

(10-16-2018 12:05 PM)brovol Wrote:  Brandon Bye was a big loss, of course, but we lost some other excellent players too, including a tremendous goalie. Our preseason ranking was far too high in light of all the players we lost, but the team seems to be coming together. Would be nice if they could make a run in the MAC tournament (if they qualify).

We have the best coach in the MAC, IMHO. Coach Wiseman can get us there if anybody can.

I love how this team is jelling, I knew it would be a struggle at the start of the season.

Grabbed a win today over a solid NIU team to go to 9-5-3.

RPI Update is a great site, has WMU at 43rd and the last team in at this time (NCAA Soccer committee uses RPI basically exclusively).

http://rpiupdatemenssoccer.blogspot.com/...ection?m=1

Akron is just behind at 46th. Game at Akron next Saturday may well decide which team goes to the dance, MAC tournament pending.