Western Michigan throttles Buffalo, winning first MAC tournament championship since 2015.
Welcome back to MACtion on the Pitch, your weekly recap of Mid-American Conference women’s soccer.
It all came down to Sunday. One game to determine the MAC champion. Buffalo aimed for their second championship in three years, Western Michigan aimed for their first since 2015.
Buffalo vs Western Michigan (5-0 Western Michigan)
The first 37 minutes were hard fought for Western Michigan, leading in shots 10-3. With 7:56 left in the first half, Abby Werthman scored off of a free kick to break through and make it 1-0 at the half. In the 55th minute, Jaden Peck doubled the lead for the Broncos (Jen Blitchok and Werthman assists).
@jadenpeck2 doubles the WMU advantage early in the second half! @WMUWomensSoccer | #MACtion pic.twitter.com/jKbqBTOsgz
— #MACtion (@MACSports) November 10, 2024
1:17 later, Werthman scored her second goal of the match (Madi Canada and Blitchok assists).
.@AbbyWerthman1 … AGAIN
It’s now 3-0 Broncos! @WMUWomensSoccer | #MACtion pic.twitter.com/NPg5mDczZ8
— #MACtion (@MACSports) November 10, 2024
With 8:47 left in the match, Werthman would complete her hat trick (Blitchok and Peck assists).
THAT’S A HAT TRICK FOR @AbbyWerthman1
Western Michigan now leads 4-0 with eight minutes remaining!@WMUWomensSoccer | #MACtion pic.twitter.com/rt0j1GzldZ
— #MACtion (@MACSports) November 10, 2024
Blitchok then continued her historic season, scoring her 17th goal with 3:14 left (Werthman and Canada assists).
The Broncos would win 5-0, earning their first title since 2015. It’s the first time a team scored five goals in a final since Miami in 2002 (def. Ohio 5-3)
Goal of the Match
The goal of the match goes to Abby Werthman. The first of her hat trick was absolutely spectacular!
GOOOOOOOAL @AbbyWerthman1 gets the Broncos on the board in the 37th minute!@WMUWomensSoccer | #MACtion pic.twitter.com/8vQ0cNXhXj
— #MACtion (@MACSports) November 10, 2024
Postgame Words
Hear from head coach Lewis Robinson:
Showed up. Showed out.
Hear from Western Michigan head coach @lewisrobbo after today’s championship victory! @WMUWomensSoccer | #MACtion pic.twitter.com/rJWDPQuuat
— #MACtion (@MACSports) November 10, 2024
Finally, hear from tournament MVP Abby Werthman:
“We’re all on cloud nine right now.”
Tournament MVP @AbbyWerthman1 discusses what this championship means to her team! @WMUWomensSoccer | #MACtion pic.twitter.com/CETeNrQ60z
— #MACtion (@MACSports) November 10, 2024
All-Tournament Team
The following players were named to the all-tournament team:
Frederique St.-Jean, Buffalo
Kaya Schultz, Buffalo
Kaylin Ricci, Buffalo
Alisa Arthur, Kent State
Siena Stambolich, Kent State
Lillian Weller, Ohio
Norah Roush, Ohio
$ Abby Werthman, Western Michigan
Brielle Gomez, Western Michigan
Jaden Peck, Western Michigan
Jen Blitchok, Western Michigan
$ – Tournament MVP
Upcoming Schedule
The NCAA held their selection show on Monday afternoon
The Broncos will take on Michigan State in East Lansing on Saturday, November 16th at 12:00 ET. This is the second straight year that the MAC will face the Spartans in the first round.
The MAC has not won an NCAA Tournament Game since 2013 (Western Michigan def. Marquette, 1-0).