These teams have a lot to prove, and this week proved it. This was a week of high highs and low lows, with significant upsets and battles across the Mid-American Conference (MAC) as we approach the homestretch of the regular season.
Northern Illinois secures the upset:
Western Michigan’s reign of terror is over as Northern Illinois snapped its 29-game unbeaten streak against MAC opponents, thanks to a 16th-minute goal by senior forward Kelsi McLaughlin. Western Michigan applied pressure with several shots on goal in the 50th minute, but Northern Illinois’ defense shut them down every time.
“Couldn’t be prouder of the group,” said Northern Illinois Head Coach Michael O’Neill, “especially after such a tough loss on Sunday. The response means everything to me and the staff, great result.”
Western Michigan’s last conference loss was on Oct. 23, 2022, at Ohio University (3-2).
After this hard-fought win by the Huskies, Northern Illinois will be back on the road, taking on Kent State on Sunday, Oct. 12, at 1:00 p.m.
Despite this loss, Western Michigan is still in first place in the MAC standings, with Buffalo not too far behind. In their next match, the Broncos will be facing their in-state rivals, Eastern Michigan (who were fighting the Broncos for first place not too long ago), on Thursday, Oct. 16, at 4:00 p.m.
Central Michigan at Akron:
In a series notorious for one-goal shutouts, both offenses fired on all cylinders, resulting in a 4-3 finish that tied their highest-scoring total in series history. But even after firing on all cylinders, Central Michigan has yet to secure its first win of the season.
Akron outshot Central Michigan 17-9 and secured their victory with a goal in the 84th minute by junior defender Jordanne Oberhaus, with her first career brace (two goals in one game).
Next up for Central Michigan will be a battle against second-place Buffalo on Sunday, Oct. 12, at 1:00 p.m.
For Akron, their next matchup will be against Ball State on Sunday, Oct. 12, at 1:00 p.m.
UMass secures an upset against Buffalo:
Buffalo also fell victim to the upset, falling 2-0 against a sixth-place UMass. Despite shots being almost even at 12-11 (Buffalo having the upper hand), UMass laid on the pressure and didn’t allow any goals.
Hoping to extend its win streak to three games, UMass will continue its homestand against Eastern Michigan on Sunday, Oct. 12, at 4:00 p.m.
Kent State wins a defensive battle against Ohio University
Kent State came out on top after securing its lone goal in the 10th minute in a defensive struggle against Ohio University. Kent State would outshoot the Bobcats 8-6 (4-2 shots on goal), further highlighting the pressure the Golden Flashes were able to generate.
After this loss, Ohio University continues its road trip, taking on a 12th-place Toledo.
Ball State is on a roll on the road:
An early second-half goal by Ball State would be the deciding factor in this matchup. This win means that Ball State now holds a 6-2 record away and sits just outside the top five at seventh place in the MAC.
