DePaul University Athletics
No. 24/24 DePaul Faces Tough Test in Western Michigan
9/10/2015 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S SOCCER
DePaul vs. Western Michigan | 3 PM Friday | Wish Field
| Live Stream
DePaul at Central Michigan | Noon Sunday | Mt. Pleasant, Mich.
CHICAGO - No. 24/24 DePaul will be more than ready for a bounce-back game on Friday when the Blue Demons tackle a fast-starting Western Michigan program at 3 p.m. in Wish Field.
Western Michigan (3-1-1) is sixth in the Great Lakes Region of the National Soccer Coaches Association of American (NSCAA) regional rankings.
The Broncos moved up after tying then No. 6 Notre Dame 2-2 last Friday and two days later went on to defeat Western Illinois.
WMU has only surrendered goals against nationally ranked opponents so far this season with two against then No. 14 Wisconsin (2-1 overtime loss) and two against the Fighting Irish. The Broncos are ranked ahead of Nebraska, Wisconsin, Northwestern and Iowa in the Great Lakes Region.
They will encounter a Blue Demon offense that is No. 8 in the nation in total goals (18) and total points (51). DePaul (4-1-1) is also No. 12 in scoring offense and assists.
Leading the charge is senior forward Elise Wyatt whose 14 points is No. 4 in the country, and she is fifth in the nation in total goals with six. Midfielder Alexa Ben has three goals and two assists while Abby Reed, Franny Cerny, Madeline Frick and Ana Greik each have two goals.
Wyatt's 29 career goals are three shy of the all-time mark set by Julianne Sitch in 2005.
The Blue Demons have outscored opponents 18-4 and have a 51-12 advantage in points. They have outshot teams 94-41 with a 49-18 margin in shots on goal.
A sturdy back line of Sarah Gorden, Elizabeth Endy, Brianna Ryce and Taylor Schissler is limiting opponents to an average of seven shots and three shots on goal per game.
In its home opener last Friday, Western Michigan was outshot 21-3 by Notre Dame. This was the second Top-25 team that the Broncos have taken to double-overtime, falling to then No. 14 Wisconsin 2-1 in double OT.
The Fighting Irish took a 1-0 lead in the 41st minute when Anna Gilbertson struck from the left side of the goal and hit the top right corner of the net. WMU answered when sophomore forward Emma Kahn scored in the 64th minute.
Notre Dame regained the lead less than three minutes later on Meghan Doyle's score. Kahn connected on her second goal of the game in the 80th minute to tie it at 2-2 on a pass from junior Olivia Vollmers from the right side.
On the season, WMU has outscored its opponents 11-4 with an 11-1 advantage in assists and 33-9 in points. The Broncos have outshot teams 66-53 with a 29-18 margin in shots on goal.
Kahn leads the team with five goals while Irene Young has two goals and three assists. Goalkeeper Stephanie Heber, the Mid-American Conference Defensive Player of the Week, has 14 saves and a 0.76 goals-against average.
The Blue Demons are on the road Sunday against a Central Michigan team that is off to a 1-2-1 start. The noon match will mark the Chippewas home opener.
CMU opened the season with a 2-2 tie at Oakland before losing 4-3 in double-overtime at Nebraska and 1-0 at Creighton. The Chippewas notched their first victory last Friday, 2-0 at Youngstown State.
Central Michigan and DePaul have a common opponent in Nebraska as the Blue Demons fell to the Cornhuskers 3-1 last Sunday at Wish Field.
The Chippewas are even at seven on goals versus opponents and have been outshot 58-53. Opposing teams have a 34-26 edge in shots on goal. Samantha Maher and Lauren Sherry lead the team with two goals apiece.
Central Michigan plays at Michigan Thursday night before welcoming the Blue Demons to the CMU Soccer Complex on Sunday.
