Eagles Drop Season Finale to CMU, 1-0

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YPSILANTI, Mich.(EMUEagles.com)—The Eastern Michigan University women's soccer team's final bid for a trip to the Mid-American Conference Tournament fell short Thursday afternoon, Oct. 27, in a 1-0 loss to Central Michigan University at Scicluna Field. The Green and White had several chances to tie the game in the second half, but CMU goalkeeper Grace Labrecque came up with a huge save each time.

The game was scoreless until the 33rd minute when Clair Horton scored her second goal of the year. EMU defenders did a good job of shutting down a usually potent Chippewas offense for the remainder of the game.

The Eagles ended the 2011 season with a 3-13-2 record and a 3-7-1 mark in the MAC for a 10th place conference finish. Central Michigan finished the season 14-2-3 with an 8-1-2 conference record which is good for the second seed heading into the MAC Tournament.

Thursday was the final collegiate soccer game for the five graduating seniors: captain Julie Kaim, twin sisters Amanda Marsh and Katie Marsh, Chelsea Detrick, and goalkeeper Maggie Manville.

Both teams registered 17 shots in the contest, with Central Michigan edging the Eagles in the shots on goal category, 7-5. Manville and Labrecque each made several spectacular saves for their respective teams.

With CMU holding a 1-0 lead, junior Jessica Thomas nearly netted the equalizer in the 36th minute when she sent a free kick sailing over a group of Chippewas defenders and toward the goal. The ball was out of reach the reach of goalkeeper Stefanie Turner but was also a few inches too high as it grazed the crossbar and bounced out of bounds.

Kaim made a bid for her first goal of the year in the 67th minute when she found herself open in front of the CMU goal. Her shot was on target, but a diving Labrecque got her fingertips on the ball just enough to redirect it out of bounds.

Labrecque bailed her team out again in the 81st minute when Angela Vultaggio ran thorough a gap in the CMU defense and fired a shot labeled for the left side of the goal.

The MAC Tournament gets underway Sunday, Oct. 30, with four games all beginning at 1 p.m. at the site of the highest seed.

2011 MAC Tournament Opening Round Matchups
No. 1 Toledo vs. No. 8 Ohio
No. 2 Central Michigan vs. No. 7 Akron
No. 3 Western Michigan vs. No. 6 Ball State
No. 4 Kent State vs. No. 5 Buffalo

All games are at highest seed's home site

Team Stats

Julie Kaim

Cara Cutaia

Angela Vultaggio

Katie Marsh

Eastern Michigan Athletics