Broncos Keeper Drew Shepherd Named NCAA Men's Soccer Statistical Champion
Article Courtesy of the Western Michigan Athletic Communications Department
KALAMAZOO, Mich.- Western Michigan redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Drew Shepherd was officially named the Division I statistical champion for Goals Against Average by the NCAA for the 2015 men’s soccer season. Shepherd also finished second among Division I keepers for save percentage.
Shepherd was a First Team All-Mid-American Conference selection this past fall, posting a 7-1-3 record. He allowed just four goals against in 1101:24 minutes played. Shepherd made 29 saves and had a .879 save percentage. As a team, Western Michigan recorded a school-record 12 shutouts, eight of those with Shepherd in goal. WMU ranked second in the nation as a team for shutout percentage.
Western Michigan produced one of the best seasons in school history, finishing with an 11-4-4 overall 3-1-1 MAC record and a No. 9 Great Lakes Regional ranking. The 11 wins was one shy of tying the school record of 12, accomplished in 1988 and 2003. The team was also ranked in the Top 25 in the TopDrawerSoccer national poll for the first time in school history.
"Drew had an absolute fantastic season for us in goal," said WMU head coach Chad Wiseman. "He is the first WMU goalkeeper to be named First Team All-MAC and we have had some very good keepers throughout the years.
"Soccer for the most part is not a big statistical sport, but ask any goalkeeper what stat they look at and the answer is goals against. Drew would be the first to thank his teammates, our back line was rock solid this year.
"Drew's work rate, commitment and attitude are amazing and I am very proud of him. He sets his personal goals high and works harder than anyone to accomplish them. Coach Ross has done a great job developing him and Drew is still very young, we look forward to having him in net the next two years. This program continues to reach new heights every year, the reason for that is the players we have in the program. Drew is a prefect example of that."
Shepherd becomes the third Western Michigan men's soccer player to be named an NCAA statistical champion in the last seven years and the second in the last two seasons. In 2014 midfielder Sean Conerty was the champion for Assists Per Game (0.67). In 2009 forward Saeed Sulemana Baba was the champion for goals per game (0.93).
All three NCAA statistical champions were recruited by Wiseman, who is entering his fourth season as the Broncos’ head coach in 2016. Wiseman was an assistant coach when Sulemana Baba joined the WMU program.
To commemorate the accomplishment the NCAA will present a plaque to Shepherd, as well as to the WMU Athletic Department.
