FINAL SCORE: #12 Western Michigan 3, #14 Vermont 1
KALAMAZOO, Mich. – A strong opening half led No. 12 Western Michigan (1-0) to a 3-1 victory over No. 14 Vermont (0-1) on the first day of the regular season, Thursday night at WMU Soccer Complex.
 
RELATED LINKS
Box Score
 
COACH'S QUOTE
"Simply, Western Michigan wanted it more than us," head coach Rob Dow said. "We'll have to be humble and own our performance to be ready for our trip to the West Coast."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Broncos quickly struck first, just 0:38 into the game on a right-footed goal by Greyson Mercer. Tanner Hodgson was credited with the assist.
• Vermont wasted little time getting the equalizer with Yaniv Bazini scoring the first Catamount goal of the season 35 seconds later. Sydney Wathuta found the UVM striker just outside the six-yard box where he delivered a header past Colin Welsh (2 saves). Max Murray also assisted on the goal.
• The Catamounts nearly took the lead in the 20th minute when Ryan Zellefrow's chip into the 18-yard box bobbled around the Western Michigan goal. Wathuta collected a rebound from just outside the six-yard box but whistled a shot wide of the far post.
• Western Michigan pulled back in front, 2-1, on Christian Shannon's first career goal coming in the 29th minute. A corner kick from Owen Smith found the rookie inside the box where he directed a header under a diving Lou Liedtka (5 saves).
• Nick Lockermann was inches away from tying the game 2-2 in the 33rd minute when he rifled a free kick from 20 yards out that clanked off the right goal post.
• Mercer netted his second goal of the day in the 40th minute to give the Broncos a 3-1 lead. Western Michigan would take the two-goal cushion into the break.
• The Catamounts battled in the second half, searching for a spark that would ignite a comeback. Vermont recorded nine shots to Western Michigan's three during the frame, but only one was directed on goal. Lockermann's shot in the 68th minute was denied by Welsh.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Bazini's season-opening goal marked the second straight year that he recorded Vermont's first tally. His first of the 2023 season was also against Western Michigan.
• UVM finished the day with the advantage in shots, registering 17 to WMU's 14. Wathuta recorded a game-high four shots.
• Nine players saw their first game action as Catamounts: Liedtka, Zellefrow, Mike Bleeker, David Ismail, Ioannis Vassiliou, Maximilian Kissel, Marcell Papp, Karl Daly, and Pieter Bultman.

UP NEXT
Vermont heads to the West Coast for a pair of games, starting on Aug. 29 at UC Irvine. Kickoff is set for 10 p.m. ET at Anteater Stadium and will broadcast live on ESPN+.
 
For news and updates about the Vermont men's soccer program, follow @UVMmsoccer on Instagram, X, and Facebook, and visit UVMathletics.com.

New England Federal Credit Union is the presenting sponsor of Vermont soccer