The 2025 season takes a bow as Western Michigan heads back home after losing 3-2 to the University of Wisconsin in round one of the NCAA tournament. With the end of the 2025 season, let’s  look back on the two biggest storylines in the Mid-American Conference (MAC).

The two biggest stories of the 2025 season relied on two very different streaks – one winning, one losing, but both reflecting on each program’s state and possible futures.

Western Michigan and Central Michigan couldn’t have been any more different than they were this past regular season with Western Michigan holding onto a 29-game winning streak against MAC opponents, and Central Michigan going almost all season without a win.

Central Michigan’s woes this past season resulted from 15 newcomers for the Chippewas, seven true freshmen and eight transfers. The number of newcomers can give any program a challenge, but none have had a season like Central Michigan. Ending their season last in the MAC standings with a 1-14-3, the Chippewas just narrowly finished their season with one win after pulling off an upset against seventh-place Eastern Michigan in their final match. With these unsavory results, Central Michigan is looking for new leadership after announcing a national search for a new head coach shortly after the conclusion of the season. 

“At this time, I have determined that we need to go in a different direction with our women’s soccer program. I am confident that with our program’s history of success,” said Director of Athletics Amy Folan. “Our commitment to women’s soccer and our track record of developing female student-athletes will attract a high-caliber candidate pool.”

But as Central Michigan fell, in-state rival Western Michigan soared. The Broncos extended their winning streak against MAC opponents to 29 games, won the MAC regular and postseason championships for the second consecutive season, and earned an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. While both NCAA appearances were first-round exits, they had a near miss in the 86th minute against Wisconsin in the 86th minute and had a free kick with just seven seconds left that floated into the box before being cleared away.

While Central struggled with an influx of new players, Western Michigan ties their success to their head coach Lewis Robinson finding the “perfect” transfers. 

“High on the list of players I look for are great people, great human beings and great soccer players, but what we really look for are people who want to prove a point, who come in with some fire,” Robinson said. “If you go through the list of transfers we’ve had, they have that in fire coming in. 

“They come here to get better and be part of a good, positive team culture. I’m proud of that.”