DAYTON — The Wright State men's soccer team returns to Alumni Field on Tuesday night for a non-conference meeting with Western Michigan. First touch is set for 5 p.m. and the match is expected to be streamed on ESPN+.
 
 
MATCH INFORMATION
Tuesday, September 26 – 5 p.m. – Watch - Live Stats
 
SCOUTING THE BRONCOS
Western Michigan is 5-1-2 overall to date, with the lone loss coming in the season opener at then-No. 12 Vermont. The Broncos have home wins over Detroit Mercy (5-0) and Bowling Green (1-0) in their two common opponents with the Raiders so far this season, with a meeting still to play against HL opponent Oakland.
 
HISTORY VS. WESTERN MICHIGAN
The Raiders hold a slight edge with a record of 7-6-0 despite a 2-0 Western Michigan win last October. The Broncos have won four of the last five meetings overall in the series.
 
LAST TIME OUT…
Wright State took an early lead on Saturday night, but the advantage would not last as the Raiders fell 3-1 at Purdue Fort Wayne in Horizon League action.Wright State got on the board in the 10th minute off a Reece Allbaugh rocket before Purdue Fort Wayne scored a pair of first half goals to have the advantage at the break before adding a final goal in the second 45 minutes.

WHO'S THE SCORER?
Entering Tuesday's match, Wright State has tallied 10 goals this season from nine different players. Reece Allbaugh became the first multi-goal scorer with a tally against Purdue Fort Wayne and has 22 total shots (seven on frame) to date, while Uche Odemena has been the most efficient goal scorer, finding the back of the net once despite only two shot attempts (both on frame).

THREE'S COMPANY
The three second half goals by Wright State on September 19 against Bowling Green matched the most goals in a game this season for the Raiders, who also found the back of the net three times in a 3-3 draw against Saint Francis (PA) on September 2.
 
FIRST BUT NOT LAST
Wright State's 1-0 win over Milwaukee on September 16 was the first victory for Alex Van der Sluijs as Raider head coach. Van der Sluijs, who spent the 2022 season as a Raider assistant, is no stranger to winning, having racked up 38 victories in four seasons at the helm of Wilmington College prior to coming to Wright State.
 
PRESEASON POINTS
The Raiders got set for the season with a trio of exhibitions, traveling to face traditional power Indiana to cap the first week of preseason training (1-0 loss, 120 minutes) before home contests against Lake Erie (4-0 win, 105 minutes) and Thomas More (2-2 draw). Conner Osterholt recorded three of Wright State's six total goals, while Charlie Carpenter, Pete Schneider and Cole Werthmuller also all found the back of the net in exhibition action.
 
PRESEASON POLL
For the second straight fall, the Raiders were picked fourth in the Horizon League preseason coaches poll, announced Thursday afternoon. Wright State tallied 60 total points in the poll, which the league's 10 head coaches voted on.
 
NEW TO THE SIDELINES
Alex Van der Sluijs was named the 11th head coach in Wright State men's soccer program history in April after serving as an assistant coach with the program since last fall. Prior to joining the Raiders, Van der Sluijs had a four-season stint as the head men's soccer coach at Wilmington College, guiding the Fightin' Quakers to four consecutive winning seasons and being named the 2021 OAC Coach of the Year.
 
Assistant coach Chris Garcia is also a new face on the sidelines, joining the Raiders after a four-year stint as head coach at Saint Elizabeth University and having played collegiately at Seton Hall.
 
HORIZON LEAGUE RAIDERS
The Raiders were recognized with five Horizon League honors last fall, with Pierson Davis earning a first team selection and Reece Allbaugh, Sebastian Jimenez, Joe Kouadio and Brock Pickett all named to the second team. Pickett's work in the classroom earned him a spot on the Horizon League's All-Academic Team while Davis was also named to the All-Ohio Men's NCAA Division I team.
 
NEXT UP
Following the meeting with Western Michigan, Wright State heads on the road for the long trek to face Green Bay on Saturday night. First touch in Wisconsin is set for 8 p.m. ET and the match is expected to be streamed on ESPN+.