Wednesday's Scoreboard
Western Michigan 2, Bowling Green 1
SIUE 3, NIU 2
Akron 3, West Virginia 2
Stories Courtesy of MAC Sports Information
Western Michigan 2, Bowling Green 1
Box Score
KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan men's soccer team picked up its sixth win of the season and fourth in Mid-American Conference play after defeating Bowling Green, 2-1, at the WMU Soccer Complex on Wednesday afternoon.
WMU scored twice early and then held off a charge from the Falcons in its third home win of the season. The Broncos picked up goals by Dylan Sing and Mike Melaragni, while Isaac Walker made two saves, both in the second half to hold the lead.
"Bowling Green is a tough team," said head coach Chad Wiseman. "They have one of the best defenders in the league in Achille Robin. We didn't create a lot of chances, but we finished well today."
Sing's fourth goal of the season gave the Broncos a 1-0 lead in the 15th minute. Melaragni passed the ball out to the right to Pepe Martinez-Bertrand and Martinez-Bertrand crossed it into the box for Sing to finish.
Just over four minutes later Caden Jackmen found Melaragni in the box and the junior forward finished for his fifth goal of the season, increasing the lead to 2-0. The goal extended Melaragni's goal-scoring streak to three games and he now has three goals and two assists during the stretch.
"We scored two great goals today," added Wiseman. "Both came against the run of play and against the wind, which had a big influence on the day. Dylan took his chance very well and Pepe did a great job of setting him up. Big Mike has been a work horse for us this season. The service from his fellow captain Caden was spot on and Mike did the rest."
Jacob Erlandson headed in a goal with one second left to play in the first half to cut the lead in half. He headed in a ball from Joey Akpunonu that just crossed over the line and was cleared out by a Bronco defender but ruled a goal.
The Falcons kept up the attack in the second half but WMU was able to stifle it, holding BGSU to just two shots on goal in the final 45 minutes.
"We have one of the most interesting teams I've ever coached at WMU," said Wiseman. "They're definitely growing as a team and forming an identity of their own. Eleven days left to the season and we have everything to play for coming down the home stretch. It's not going to be easy, the MAC has the strongest RPI in the nation."
The MAC currently sits ahead of the PAC-12 with a .5633 RPI to lead the nation.
Western Michigan heads on the road to take on Akron on Wednesday, April 14 at 7 p.m. before returning to host the Zips on Sunday, April 18 at 12 p.m.
SIUE 3, NIU 2
Box Score
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – Aaron Crabtree banged in his first career goal in the fifth minute of the second overtime Wednesday, sending SIUE to a 3-2 win over Northern Illinois at Korte Stadium.
The Cougars snapped a five-game losing streak with the win and improved to 5-5 overall and 2-5 in Mid-American Conference play. NIU fell to 5-6-1 overall and 4-4 in the MAC.
"This was a big time performance from our guys," SIUE Head Coach Cale Wassermann said. "It was a really tough match. NIU has some talented players and they are athletic."
The goal came follwing an SIUE free kick which was played into the six-yard box. When NIU tried to clear, the ball came to Crabtree, who settled and before burying the shot in the top of the net. The Cougars prevailed after the Huskies tied the score with just 40 seconds to play in regulation when MAC scoring leader Nick Markanich headed in from close range.
"I was proud of our group for battling until the final whistle," Wassermann added. "We had some adversity with 40 seconds left and this group showed again that no matter what happens we're not going to back down."
After a scoreless first half, Vincent Jackson II opened the scoring, just two and a half minutes into the second half. He took the ball away from the NIU defense, and lifted a shot into the upper corner, with the outside of his right foot to put SIUE up 1-0. It came on the Cougars' first shot on goal of the game.
"Vincent Jackson is a very creative player," Wassermann said. "This goal was a little difficult. He took it away from pressure and used the outside of the right foot. He's got the skill and the creativity to look for those moments."
Markanich scored his first of the day when he broke through into the box and slid the game-tying goal under SIUE goalkeeper Lluís Martorell in the 65th minute.
Akron 3, West Virginia 2
Box Score
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