Eagles Fall to Redbirds in Home Opener, 3-0

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YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com)—A change of venue did little to shift the fortunes of the Eastern Michigan University women's soccer team, which dropped its sixth-straight match, 3-0, to Illinois State University Friday, Sept. 16, at Scicluna Field. The first home game of the season was spoiled by a hat trick from ISU freshman Rachel Tejada.

Eastern Michigan fired nine shots at ISU goalkeeper Aryn Newsom, who needed to make several brilliant saves to keep the Eagles off the scoreboard. Freshman Bianca Rossi had three of those shots and was robbed twice in a 15-minute span.

Stephanie Clarke and Angela Vultaggio also came up just short of tallying goals for the home team as well.

Despite allowing three goals, Maggie Manville played a solid game in goal for the Eagles, making 10 saves on the evening.

For the Redbirds, Tejada continued her torrid goal-scoring pace with her 10th, 11th and 12th goal of the season. Jessica Carlson assisted on all three goals.

The Eagles finish the non-conference season at 0-6-1, while the Redbirds improve to 5-3-0. EMU has now been shut out in three consecutive matches and has gone 286:57 without netting a goal.

The Redbirds controlled much of the action through the opening minutes, with Manville making five saves in just over 15 minutes.

ISU broke through for the game's first goal in the 30th minute when a Tejada caught up to a cross-field pass and rushed up the right side uncontested and kicked the ball past a sprawling Mannville.

As the half neared its conclusion, the Eagles were attacking deep in ISU territory. Chelsea Detrick launched a shot from 10 yards out which was blocked away by a Redbirds defender. On the ensuing corner kick, Emily Dzik got off a solid header, but the ball sailed just high over the right edge of the goal.

The second half began in much the same fashion when an early ISU foul gave the Eagles a free kick near the top of the penalty area. The ball found its way to the front of the net where Rossi was in prime shooting position. However, Rossi's kick was not quick enough as a scrambling Newsom got a piece to make a save. The rebound rolled slowly behind Newsom toward the empty goal, but EMU attackers were well offside and the play was ended.

Rossi was again denied her first-career goal in the 60th minute, when a shot labeled for the top of the goal was snatched out of the air by Newsom.

Eastern Michigan continued to dominate play until the 63rd minute, when Tejada once again broke free from EMU defenders on a pass up the middle from Carlson. Tejada poked a lazy chip past Manville, who got a piece of the shot, to make it 2-0.

Tejada completed the hat trick in the 84th minute on a feed from Carlson near the top of the penalty area.

The Green and White begin its 11-game Mid-American Conference slate on the road Friday, Sept. 23, at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. Start time is set for 4 p.m.

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Team Stats

Angela Vultaggio

Chelsea Detrick

Bianca Rossi

Cara Cutaia

Eastern Michigan Athletics