Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
Toledo
Soccer To Kickoff Final Regular Season Homestand
10/21/2009 2:54:43 PM | Soccer
The Eagles will take on MAC rival Toledo this Friday, then Bowling Green Sunday afternoon.
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YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University women's soccer team will host its final regular season homestand, beginning with Toledo and Bowling Green this weekend. The Eagles are currently in third place in the Mid-American Conference and are looking to improving that stance with a successful slate at home to close out the season.
The long-awaited rematch with rival Toledo has finally arrived. The Eagles (8-3-5 overall, 4-1-3 MAC) have been eager to get back at the Rockets ever since Toledo ousted them from the MAC Tournament Championship game last November. The Eagles have taken care of business and positioned themselves with the perfect opportunity to leap frog ahead of the Rockets with a win on Friday as Toledo (9-5-2, 5-2-1 MAC) sits one point ahead of EMU in the conference standings, good for second place. Sunday, the Eagles will host Bowling Green. Friday's match at Scicluna Field is slated for 3 p.m. while Sunday's is scheduled for 1 p.m.
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ABOUT THE ROCKETS: The University of Toledo has won four of its last five matches including two come-from-behind victories over Ball State and, more recently, Kent State. The three-time defending MAC Champions are putting it together again in 2009 despite a slow start. Their two league losses this year have been at Miami, 1-0, and to Ohio at home, 1-0. They've garnered 103 corner kicks which is second in the MAC, while out-scoring opponents 23-16 through 16 games this season. Three players have each scored a team-high four goals in Molly Cornwell, Ali Leak and Brittany Hensler. Cornwell leads the team with 13 points. The Rockets are 3-2-2 on the road this year. Head Coach Brad Evans is in his ninth season at Toledo with a career record of 87-70-18.
SCOUTING THE FALCONS: Bowling Green was picked to finish third ahead of the Eagles in the MAC Preseason Coaches Poll. So far, they have limped out to a dismal start in conference play, record just one win in eight games. That win came in their last game against Buffalo Oct. 18. Keely Chandler and Katelyn Turner lead the Falcons with three goals apiece. Megan Amann leads the team in points with nine (2 G, 5 A). BGSU has allowed 24 goals in 17 games this season, but lead the MAC in corner kicks gained with 107. They sit two points out of tie for the eighth and final playoff spot with three games left to play in the MAC. Head Coach Andy Richards has a 98-83-19 career record in his tenure.
LAST TIME OUT: The Eagles came away with a tie and a win, respectively, against Western Michigan and Northern Illinois in their final two MAC road matches of the regular season. Friday, Oct. 16 they traveled to Kalamazoo and drew even, 0-0, with the Broncos for their fifth tie of the year, tying a school record. Maggie Manville made four saves in her fifth shutout of the season. Two days later, the Green and White were fortunate to catch a big break in the waning moments of regulation, earning a penalty kick following a Northern Illinois foul in the box. Ashley Rodrigues converted the shot with 31 seconds remaining and the Eagles came away with the 2-1 win. They completed their MAC road schedule unbeaten, going 1-0-3.
Avenging the Rockets: Toledo is the only team in the MAC that the Eagles have an all-time losing record to. The Rockets took control of the all-time series, which sits at 9-8-0 in their favor, when they beat EMU in the 2008 MAC Tournament Championship Final with a late goal last November. The Eagles can avenge both shortcomings with a win Friday.
CROWDED MAC STANDINGS: After Sunday's slate of games, the Eagles were one of four teams sporting four wins on the season. Central Michigan leads everyone by great lengths as they moved to 8-0 in conference play. All 12 teams are still in contention for MAC Tournament spots with three games left to play on the regular season schedule. The top eight teams qualify for the postseason tournament while first round home games are awarded to the top four seeds. The Eagles sit in third place with 15 points behind Central Michigan (24 points) and Toledo (16 points).
RODRIGUES CLIMBING CHARTS: Ashley Rodrigues is making her mark in Eastern Michigan women's soccer history by climbing the charts in several categories. With seven goals this season, the senior has 18 for her career and is tied with Michele Lawrence for third place on the all-time list. Rodrigues is one point from tying Lawrence for third place on the all-time points list as well, entering Friday's game against Toledo with 47 career points. She's fourth in shots attempted with 111, third in shots on goal with 62, and has gone from seventh to third in game-winning goals, scoring four this year to give her seven career game-winners.
HOME SWEET HOME: The Eagles are 5-2-1 at home with their only losses coming to Miami, 1-0, and IUPUI, 2-1, in double overtime. The loss to IUPUI was especially hard as the Panthers scored with 24 seconds remaining in regulation to send the game to overtime, and then again with six seconds remaining in the second overtime to beat the Eagles. EMU has outscored its opponents 10-5 in eight home matches this season, recording three shutouts with a 1-1 draw to regionally-ranked Michigan State as well.
