Soccer's Late Push Falls Short Against Toledo on Senior Day

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Interview with captain Julie Kaim

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com)—A furious second-half offensive charge by the Eastern Michigan University women's soccer team came up a goal short in a hard-fought 2-1 loss to the Mid-American Conference-leading University of Toledo Sunday afternoon, Oct. 23, at Scicluna Field. EMU fell behind, 2-0, in the early stages of the final half, but pushed through for a goal in the 81st minute before ultimately running out of time to find the equalizer.

The Eagles (3-12-2; 3-6-1 MAC) were unable to gain a valuable three points to move up from their 10th place conference standing against a Rockets (10-6-2; 8-1-1 MAC) squad which still holds a two-point lead over Central Michigan University for top spot in the conference.

Angela Vultaggio netted the sixth goal of her young career on a breakaway off a lead pass from Chelsea Detrick. Detrick's assist marked the 50th point of her stellar career which moved her into fifth place on the EMU all-time points list.

Vultaggio also led all EMU attackers offensively with four shots. Stephanie Clarke also added a trio of shots for the Green and White, which was outshot 18-14 overall by the Rockets and 12-6 in shots on goal.

For Toledo, Nicole Gyurgyik continued her successful 2011 campaign with her eighth goal of the year. Ana Reynolds scored UT's second goal for her first of the season. Rachel MacLeod and Molly Cantwell recorded an assist each.

Prior to the game, the EMU soccer family honored the squad's five graduating seniors: captain Julie Kaim, twin sisters Amanda Marsh and Katie Marsh, Detrick and goalkeeper Maggie Manville.

Eastern Michigan nearly snatched an early lead in the sixth minute when Detrick won a challenge and broke in on goal from the right side. Looking near-side, Detrick's shot went just wide and the game remained scoreless.

Toledo came close to taking a 1-0 lead in the 13th minute when a crossbar prevented MacLeod from scoring her seventh of the season.

As the half was nearing its conclusion, Manville came up with a big save on a Kristen Mattei header to send the game into halftime knotted at zero.

The scoreless tie would not remain for long as MacLeod broke away from an EMU defender in the 48th minute and hit Gyurgyik on the fly who one-timed a shot past Manville.

Minutes later, Toledo made it a 2-0 game as a scramble in front of the net resulted in Reynolds sending the ball just over the goal line.

With time winding down in the contest, Eastern Michigan sent extra attackers forward in an attempt to jumpstart the offense and get on the scoreboard. After several quality scoring chances without any results, the Eagles finally caught a break in the 81st minute, when a sliding Detrick found Vultaggio racing up the middle in the Toledo zone. Vultaggio ran in alone on goalkeeper Vicki Traven and slid a shot into the right corner and cut the deficit to 2-1.

The Green and White tried desperately over the remaining eight minutes to tie the game, but was unable to do so as the Rockets withstood a flurry of EMU rushes to sneak away with the win.

Heading into the final game of the regular season, the Eagles sit two points out of the eighth and final playoff spot. They can claim as many as three points Thursday, Oct. 27, against defending MAC champion Central Michigan at Scicluna Field. Game time is set for 3 p.m.

MAC STANDINGS AS OF SUNDAY, OCT. 23
1. *Toledo (25 points)
2. *Kent State (18)
3. Central Michigan (23)
4. Western Michigan (21)
5. Ball State (18)
6. Ohio (14)
7. Buffalo (13)
8. Miami (12)
9. Akron (11)
10. Eastern Michigan (10)
11. Bowling Green (9)
12. Northern Illinois (3)
*Division Leader

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Team Stats

Angela Vultaggio

Chelsea Detrick

Stephanie Clarke

Chelsie Oddan

Eastern Michigan Athletics