EMU Soccer Downs WMU To Win MAC Regular Season Title

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KALAMAZOO, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – On a rainy Halloween afternoon, Oct. 31, the Eastern Michigan University soccer team used a pair of second half goals to come back and down Western Michigan University, 2-1, at the WMU Soccer Complex. With the victory over the Broncos (9-5-4, 7-2-2 MAC), the Eagles (11-6-2, 8-2-1 MAC) claimed the outright Mid-American Conference regular season championship for the third time in program history and first since 2003.

Senior team co-captain Cara Cutaia (Burlington, Ontario-Notre Dame Catholic) recorded an assist and a goal to pace the Green and White in scoring. Cutaia played a lead pass to junior forward Angela Vultaggio (Chesterfield, Mich.-L'Anse Creuse North), who scored EMU's first goal of the game to tie it up in the second half. Just five minutes later, Cutaia would blast a strike from 20 yards out that went over the outstretched WMU goalkeeper, Michelle Watson, for the game-winning goal.

Sophomore goalkeeper Megan McCabe (Arlington Heights, Ill.-Prospect) stopped four-of-five shots sent her way, including three in the first half as well as the only other WMU on target in the second half. For WMU, Watson, made three saves while allowing the two second half goals.

It was a tale of two halves as the Eagles outshot Western 10-1 in the second half after WMU held the advantage in shots throughout the first half, 12-5. Although EMU had a two-shot advantage during the 90 minutes of play, 15-13, each team fired five shots on goal.

As the rain came down sideways at times, Western had the advantage in ball possession for the majority of the first 45 minutes. EMU had the first good look at the goal in the seventh minute as Stephanie Clarke (London, Ontario-St. Thomas Aquinas) blasted a shot from 15 yards out, but it was deflected out of bounds by Watson, giving a corner kick to the Eagles. Stepping up to take the kick, Clarke served a ball into the box where Emily Kowalzyk (Tinley Park, Ill.-Victor J.) headed the ball towards the net, but missed wide.

The Eagles would not have another great scoring opportunity in the opening half as WMU moved the ball towards the other side of the field. As the EMU defense held strong on the first three corner kicks, the Broncos found an opening with less than one minute remaining in the first half. Western took its fourth corner of the contest, but was headed out of the box by Kowalzyk. Nonetheless, sophomore Heather Piccariello fired a shot from 20 yards away that curved past McCabe and into the back of the net, giving the Broncos a 1-0 with 21 seconds left, a lead they would take into intermission. WMU outshot EMU 12-5 in the opening half, including a 4-1 advantage in shots on goal. McCabe made three saves while Watson made the lone save off of Clarke's blast at the goal.

To start the second half, the Eagles kept the ball on their offensive side of the field, finally finding the open net in the 61st minute. After the WMU controlled the ball on the other side of the field, Cutaia made a run down the center of the field. The team co-captain found Vultaggio on the right side of the box, and the junior forward curled the ball past Watson to tie the game, 1-1.

Five minutes later, Cutaia struck again, this time finding the net herself. Stevens would pass to the senior midfielder, and Cutaia rifled a shot over the keeper from 20 yards out, handing her team a one-goal advantage, 2-1, with just 24:08 remaining in regulation.

As they have done a superb job of all year, EMU held onto the lead, controlling ball possession and playing solid defense. The Broncos would not threaten for the rest of the game, as McCabe and the backline held strong. As the clock ticked down, the EMU faithful who made the trip began to get loud and on their feet. When the horn sounded to complete the Eagles' quest for the conference title, the EMU benched stormed the field to celebrate with their teammates.

As the top seed in the MAC Tournament, EMU will host a quarterfinal contest Sunday, Nov. 3, at 1 p.m. against No. 8 seed Ohio University. Cost of admission to get into the MAC Tournament contest at Scicluna Field is $5; however, EMU students will be permitted in free with a valid student ID.

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Team Stats

Cara Cutaia

Angela Vultaggio

Martha Stevens

Stephanie Clarke

Eastern Michigan Athletics