Soccer Hits the Road for Two More

Click here for full release (PDF)

Click here for Gametracker vs. Michigan State

Click here for Live Stats vs. Eastern Illinois

ABOUT THE SPARTANS: Both Eastern Michigan and Michigan State enter Friday’s (Sept. 5) contest without a loss, as the Spartans sport a 3-0-0 record. MSU has defeated Oakland (5-1), DePaul (3-0) and Bowling Green (3-0) to start the 2008 campaign. Goalkeeper Lindsey Wrege has allowed only one goal in three games, collecting 12 saves on the year. Offensively, reigning Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week Lauren Hill, sister of former Eagle Lindsay Hill, leads the Spartans with four goals. Leading the Spartans on the sidelines is Tom Saxton, who is in his 18th year as the head coach. The Spartans hold a 7-1-2 advantage in the series, with the Eagles’ only victory coming during the 1999 season when EMU blanked MSU, 1-0 in East Lansing.

SCOUTING THE PANTHERS: The Eastern Illinois Panthers enter the weekend with a 0-3-1 record. Before taking on the Eagles, EIU welcomes Wright State to Charleston, Ill. for a contest, Friday, Sept. 5. Eastern Illinois has dropped games to Indiana State (0-1), Purdue (1-5) and Northern Illinois (0-1) while tying Northern Iowa (0-0) in double overtime. Ashley Eck has scored the only goal for the Panthers this season, while goalkeeper Kaylin Lorbert was named the OVC Goalkeeper of the Week. Lorbert has allowed only two goals this season, while racking up 20 saves and one shutout. The Panthers won last year’s meeting in Ypsilanti, defeating the Eagles, 3-1, in the 2007 season opener.

UNBEATEN AFTER THREE: After playing three games to start the 2008 season, the Eastern Michigan University soccer team is unbeaten. The Eagles started the season with a double-overtime 2-2 tie against Michigan (Aug. 24) before winning their second game, 3-0, against IPFW (Aug. 29). EMU then hit the road for Detroit, tying the UDM Titans, 0-0 (Sept. 2).

ROAD WARRIORS: The Eastern Michigan University women’s soccer team will be keeping its bags packed throughout the non-conference portion of the season. The Eagles playes their first two games of the 2008 season at home, but those are the only non-conference home games on the slate. EMU will stay in-state with games against Detroit (Sept. 2) and Michigan State (Sept. 5), before heading out of the Great Lakes State for five straight contests. A quick trip to Illinois to take on the Panthers of Eastern Illinois (Sept. 7) is scheduled before the Eagles head to sunny Florida for contests against Miami (Sept. 12) and Florida Atlantic (Sept. 14). EMU wraps up the non-conference schedule with a two-game trip to the Hoosier state against Indiana State (Sept. 19) and IUPUI (Sept. 21). After seven straight games on the road, the Eagles open up conference action at Scicluna Field.

KINTER BACK TO SCORING WAYS: Junior Deana Kinter has found her scoring touch again. After leading the team in scoring and goals during her freshman season in 2006, she did not score last season, playing predominately in the backfield. Through three games this year, Kinter has already notched two goals, including a dramatic game-tying goal against Michigan with just :33 seconds remaining.

FIRST HALF NO-SHOW: Through the first three games of the 2008 season, the Eagles have not been able to find the net in the first half. On the flip side, EMU has not allowed any of its opponents to score in the first half, limiting opponents to only nine total shots in three games.

STINGY IN THE NET: Sophomore goalkeeper Maggie Manville has already recorded two shutouts this season, not allowing goals to IPFW (Aug. 29) or Detroit (Sept. 2). With the consecutive shutouts, she is up to eight already in her short career. She has allowed only two goals this season, both coming against the Wolverines of Michigan (Aug. 24). The Chelsea, Mich. native has 12 saves in three games, while allowing only 0.58 goals per game.

FRESHMEN PLAYING A ROLE: Through three games, all six true freshmen and both redshirt freshmen have seen the field. True freshmen Katie Marsh and Julie Kaim have been starters in all three games, while Vanessa Atanasoski, Chelsea Detrick and redshirt freshman Brandi Wood have seen action in all three contests. Katee True has been on the field for two games, while Amanda Marsh and Kaitlin Ehman saw action against IPFW.

SEASON OPENERS: Since the inception of the women’s soccer program in 1995, the Eagles sport an 8-4-2 mark in season-opening games after tying Michigan, 2-2. From 1996-2001, the Eagles were perfect in season lidlifters, going 6-0 during that span.

FOR THE 14TH TIME: The 2008 season marks the 14th season for the Eastern Michigan University women’s soccer team. The program was started in 1995 under Paul Scicluna, who was the head coach from 1995-1998. Current head coach Scott Hall has been the coach ever since, entering his 10th year as head coach this season. The program has an all-time record of 131-104-24 in 14 years.

EMU SOCCER ON THE WEB: If you can’t make it out to a home game, check out www.emueagles.com for LiveStats at all home games. Go to the women’s soccer page and click on LiveStats for home games to track the Eagles from your computer. The website also features up-to-date statistics, stories, game recaps and game notes to help you keep up with EMU.

CHRISTENSEN TO MISS SEASON: Junior Maggie Christensen will miss the entire 2008 season, due to a knee injury. Christensen injured the knee during the spring season, forcing her to redshirt this season. In 2007, the versatile forward played in all 19 games, scoring a team-high six goals (two game-winners) with two assists en route to earning All-Mid-American Conference second team honors.

MAC POLL: In the annual preseason MAC Coaches’ Poll, the Eastern Michigan University women’s soccer team was picked to finish tied for sixth. Toledo, last season’s tournament champions, were picked to win both the regular season and tournament titles this season. Ball State, the reigning regular season champions, were picked to finish second, with Bowling Green, Miami and Ohio placing third, fourth and fifth, respectively. EMU and Northern Illinois tied for sixth, with Central Michigan, Kent State, Buffalo, Akron and Western Michigan rounding out the 2008 poll.

MAC Preseason Poll

1. Toledo
2. Ball State
3. Bowling Green
4. Miami
5. Ohio
T6. Eastern Michigan
T6. Northern Illinois
8. Central Michigan
9. Kent State
10. Buffalo
11. Akron
12. Western Michigan

YOUTH MOVEMENT: With seven seniors gone from last year’s team, the freshman class of 2008 has an opportunity to play right away. Six freshmen join three redshirt freshmen hoping to make their mark on the 2008 season. Redshirt freshmen Kaitlin Ehman and Brandi Wood join true freshmen Vanessa Atanasoski, Chelsea Detrick, Julie Kaim, Amanda Marsh, Katie Marsh and Katee True as the newcomers this year.

ALL OVER THE MIDWEST: This year’s women’s soccer team has a large Midwestern presnce, as all but two players hail from either Michigan, Ohio, Indiana or Illinois. Monique Budani and Ashley Rodrigues are originally from Ontario, while everyone else calls the Midwest home. Of the remaining athletes, 13 come from Michigan, five from Ohio, two from Illinois and one from Indiana.

FARING WELL AGAINST THE OPPONENTS: Of the 20 opponents the Eagles will face this year, EMU has a losing record against only three teams, Eastern Illinois, Michigan and Michigan State. EMU is tied in the all-time series against Bowling Green, Florida Atlantic, Ohio and Western Michigan. The Eagles boast winning records against Akron, Ball State, Buffalo, Central Michigan, Detroit, IPFW, IUPUI, Kent State, Miami, Northern Illinois and Toledo. EMU will face off against Indiana State and Miami (Fla.) for the first time in program history.

Eastern Michigan Athletics

Related News

Related Videos