Vultaggio's Pair Caps Off 2-1 Overtime Victory

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YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com)— Angela Vultaggio netted a pair of goals including the overtime game-winner to propel the Eastern Michigan University women's soccer team to a 2-1 victory Sunday, Oct. 9, against Miami University at Scicluna Field. The true freshman scored on a breakaway in the 99th minute to capture the Eagles' first win of the 2011 season.

Eastern Michigan held a 1-0 lead until the 87th minute, when Miami's Jess Kodiak tied the score to force sudden death.

In the overtime, the RedHawks drilled a shot off the crossbar before a long downfield pass by Amanda Marsh found a speeding Vultaggio who raced past several flat-footed Miami defenders and sailed a shot past goalkeeper Allison Norenberg.

The Eagles (1-10-2; 1-4-1 MAC) celebrated their first Mid-American Conference win of the season as well as their first win overall since Oct. 22, 2010 against Ball State University.

Vultaggio earned her team-leading third and fourth goals of the season, with Cara Cutaia and Marsh recording an assist apiece.

As a team, EMU needed just three shots on goal to walk away with the victory. At the other end, Maggie Manville denied 9-of-10 RedHawks shots, including a brilliant save early in the second half to preserve an EMU lead.

Sunday marked the third consecutive match in which the Eagles needed an extra period to reach the game's conclusion.

The RedHawks (6-7-0; 1-5-0 MAC) dropped their fifth straight match after starting MAC play 1-0.

Miami controlled the action in the early going, but the Green and White capitalized on its first scoring chance of the game in the 11th minute, when Cutaia worked the ball to the front of the net to Vultaggio. Vultaggio one-timed a shot off the side of her foot and found the back of the net to give EMU a 1-0 edge.

Stephanie Clarke was dangerous for EMU later in the first half with a shot that was blocked in front of the net and another which sailed just over the crossbar.

With time ticking down in the half, Miami looked to add the equalizer, but the Eagles' defense was in position to thwart the attack.

At the 53-minute mark, Manville came up with a key save off a booming kick by Haley Pleshakov. Plesakov's screened shot was labeled for the right corner of the goal, but a sprawling Manville used her long reach to come down with the ball.

Eastern Michigan nearly made it 2-0 with 24 minutes to play in the game when Emily Dzik's attempt off a corner kick from Clarke was blocked just feet from a wide-open left side. Another corner in the 76th minute found an open Julie Kaim whose rising shot just missed the top of the cage.

Desperate for a goal, the RedHawks sent extra players forward in the final minutes. Just when EMU appeared to survive the worst part of the attack, Kodiak poked a shot past Manville from point-blank range with just over three minutes to play.

Miami carried its momentum into the early stages of overtime, as Katy Dolesh nearly ended the game with a long kick which hit square off the crossbar.

With the RedHawks still pressuring, Marsh sent an arching kick down the middle of the field and into Miami territory. The kick found an open Vultaggio who was already running full speed into the attacking zone. Vultaggio caught several Miami defenders off guard and broke free with just the goalie to beat. The Chesterfield, Mich. native made no mistake and put the game away for the Eagles.

A delirious EMU squad stormed off the bench and mobbed Vultaggio, who tallied her ninth point of the season and first-career game-winning goal.

The Eagles will try to make it two wins in-a-row Friday, Oct. 14, when they take on MAC West Division opponent Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Ill. Game time is set for 2 p.m.

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Team Stats

Angela Vultaggio

Cara Cutaia

Amanda Marsh

Stephanie Clarke

Eastern Michigan Athletics