Eagles and RedHawks to Square Off in MAC Tourney Semifinal

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YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University women's soccer team punched its ticket to the Mid-American Conference Tournament semifinals for the second straight year with a win over Kent State last weekend. The Eagles will try to get back to the MAC Tournament final for the second consecutive season and win a MAC title which would be their first since 1999.

The Eagles (11-3-6) will take on Miami University (11-7-1) at 2 p.m. Friday for a chance to meet the winner of Toledo and Central Michigan in the championship game Sunday. EMU seeks revenge from a 1-0 loss to Miami at home back on Oct. 9, the Eagles' lone conference defeat of the season. Sixth-seeded Miami upset No. 3 Akron to get to this point. Friday's semifinal match will be played at the CMU Soccer Complex in Mount Pleasant, Mich.

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SCOUTING THE REDHAWKS: Miami University enters this weekend with an 11-7-1 overall record and coming off an upset win over third-seeded Akron. The sixth-seeded RedHawks have enjoyed one of the best turnaround seasons in the MAC this year after finishing 6-12-1 in 2008. They've outscored their opponents 33-12 this season, leading the league in points (93), goals (33) and assists (27) while ranking second in goals allowed (12). Sara Lund's seven goals sits second in the MAC behind EMU's Ashley Rodrigues. She's tied for the team lead in points (16) with Allison Berkey (6 G, 4 A). Goalkeeper Krista Pace has made 87 saves this season, recording eight shutouts with a goals against average of 0.61. Head Coach Bobby Kramig is in his 27th season at the helm, compiling a 131-108-18 overall record to date.

MAC TOURNAMENT HISTORY BETWEEN EMU AND MIAMI: Eastern Michigan and Miami have met in the MAC Tournament three times previously, the most recent being 2005. The first time both met in the postseason was Nov. 7, 1999 in the championship game. The Eagles won 5-3 in a shootout and advanced to NCAA National Tournament for the first time in history. In 2001, Miami beat EMU 4-1 in the MAC Semifinals and again in the first round in 2005.

LAST TIME OUT: The Eagles were the first Mid-American Conference team to score a goal on Central Michigan this year when Paige Sheridan blasted one past the Chippewa keeper in the 11th minute. CMU found an answer 29 minutes later and the game ended in a 1-1 draw. Eastern Michigan hosted Kent State in the MAC Tournament Quarterfinals and made quick work of the Flashes, defeating them 3-0 to move onto the next round. Ashley Rodrigues, Chelsea Detrick and Sheridan each connected on scores to lead the Eagles. Mona Budani made seven saves to preserve her fifth shutout of the year.
sweet home scicluna: The Eagles finished their home slate with an overall record of 8-2-2, 5-1-1 in conference play with their only losses coming to MAC foe, Miami and non-conference opponent, IUPUI. 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, 2-1. EMU has outscored its opponents 18-8 in 12 home matches this season, recording five shutouts with a 1-1 draw to regionally ranked Michigan State as well. It was the best home record for an Eagles squad since their 1999 MAC title run when they went 9-0-2 at the friendly confines of Scicluna Field.

REGIONALLY RANKED: Eastern Michigan appeared in this week's Great Lakes Region top-10 poll. It's the first time the Eagles have cracked the regional rankings since they debuted at No. 10 back on Sept. 15. Nationally ranked No. 11 Ohio State is tops in the Great Lakes Region. Penn State, Purdue, Indiana and Wisconsin round out the top-five. Michigan State is sixth while Central Michigan eighth and Illinois State tied with EMU for the 10th spot.

MAC TOURNAMENT HISTORY: Eastern Michigan enters its MAC Tournament Semifinal match against Miami with an 8-10 overall record in MAC Tournament play and a 2-2 mark in the MAC Tournament Semifinals. The Eagles defeated second-seeded Central Michigan in the semifinals last season and with a win over Miami would advance to their second straight MAC Tournament Final.

ALL-TIME SAVES LEADER: With 10 saves against Bowling Green Sunday, Oct. 25, Monique Budani became the all-time saves leader at Eastern Michigan. The junior entered the season with 164 saves and has totaled 72 so far this season giving her 236 for her career. She passed Nikki Allen ('04) who made 223 stops from 2002-04. It's just one of several records that Budani holds the top spot in currently. She also leads in saves per game (6.36) and save percentage (.871).

SAVES APLENTY: Eastern Michigan has been solid in goal no matter who has stood in net. Maggie Manville and Monique Budani have combined to record a save percentage of .905, saving 133 shots while allowing just 14 goals this season. They rank fourth in the nation among Division I teams. Samford, Dayton and Pittsburgh are the only schools that rank ahead of the Eagles.

RODRIGUES CLIMBING THE CHARTS: Ashley Rodrigues is making her mark in Eastern Michigan women's soccer history by climbing the charts in several categories. With nine goals this season, the senior has 20 for her career and is in sole possession of third place on the all-time list. Rodrigues is third place on the all-time points list as well, entering Friday's MAC Semifinal match against Miami with 51 career points. She's fourth in shots attempted with 120, third in shots on goal with 69, and has gone from seventh to third in game-winning goals, scoring six this year to give her nine career game-winners.

Eastern Michigan Athletics

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