COLLEGE MEN’S SOCCER: Western Michigan holds off Oakland
— STAFF REPORTS
ROCHESTER HILLS — Three different players scored first-half goals and Western Michigan University held on for a 3-2 non-conference victory Wednesday over host and inter-state rival Oakland University at the OU Soccer Complex.
It was the third straight win for the Bronchos (7-4-0), while Oakland slipped to 5-4-2.
It also marked the third time this season that WMU tallied three or more goals in a single half.
“A win on the road in college soccer is a good win,” said Western Michigan head coach Chad Wiseman. “Three goals in the first 27 minutes is awesome. They were great goals, too. We conceded late in the game and Oakland was able to add a second goal to make things very interesting. We grabbed the game back, though, and made sure to secure the result. I am thankful for the Broncos supporters who attended today. It felt almost like a home game with all our supporters.”
Oakland freshman Michael Ketteman is sandwiched by a pair of Western Michigan players during Wednesday’s non-league clash.
Photos By Amanda Thick, Amanda Leigh Photography
Former Michigan Mr. Soccer award winners in high school scored the first two goals of the contest for the Bronchos.
Western Michigan wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, as sophomore forward Mike Melaragni (Rochester Stoney Creek) headed a ball into the back of the net off a free kick from senior defender Paul Liagre (St. Quen Suriton, France) less than two minutes into the contest.
Freshman midfielder Brennan Creek (Kalamazoo Hackett Catholic) gave his team a two-goal advantage in the 17th minute, scoring his third of the year. Senior Giuseppe Vitale (Utica Eisenhower) collected the assist on the play.
Melaragni was Mr. Soccer in 2017 and Creek earned the high honor in 2018.
The third goal for Broncos came via the foot of freshman midfielder Charlie Sharp (Brighton), who found a wide open net in front of him following an outstanding pass from sophomore forward Eric Conerty (Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central). Sharp now ranks second on his team with four goals on the season.
Oakland University’s Mitch Meldrum (No. 17) applies some pressure on Western Michigan’s Charlie Sharp. Photos By Amanda Thick, Amanda Leigh Photography.
“We had that set piece right off the training grounds to get it started,” added. Wiseman. “Brennan had a great finish off a four-man combination. The least goal really showed our explosiveness to get in behind.”
Oakland made a strong comeback effort in the second half, scoring twice in a period of five minutes, but Western Michigan held on for the one-goal victory.
Mikey Ketteman (Portage Central) and Carson-Debison Larabie (Ajax, Ont., Notre Dame) tallied for the Golden Grizzlies.
“It wasn’t our top performance there in the first half,” sighed Oakland coach Eric Pogue. “They did blitzcreek us in the first half. They are very good at the things they are very good at. They have a clear identity. They’re big, strong, they’re counter attack at mach speed. They punish you (when you) make mistakes. We got punished. We weren’t ready for the big fight.
“Going into the second half it was one of two things,” continued Pogue. “Do we let them figure it out, or do we give our young bucks a chance. They have been yearning for that opportunity. I think that’s where we kind of went for things. We know we have a big game (coming up) with IUPUI and Western Michigan is having a great season beating some nationally-ranked teams. The last couple of games they beat Loyola Marymount at home and I think they beat a Xavier team on the road. This is a tough team. Credit it to our guys. They came out (in the second half) and battled.”
Redshirt freshman goalkeeper Isaac Walker (Orlando, Fla., Bishop Moore) made two saves on the evening to pick up his fifth win of the 2019 campaign. Melaragni led the Broncos with three shots in his return to his hometown.
Both teams traded off nine shots in the contest, with Oakland holding a 5-3 edge with shots on frame. The Broncos finished all three of their shots on goal.
Western Michigan will open Mid-American Conference play this Sunday at West Virginia with a 1 p.m. start.
Oakland hosts IUPUI on Saturday at 4 p.m. in a showdown of the top two teams in the Horizon League standings. OU is 3-0-1 while IUPUI is 2-0-1.
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