Dzik, Cutaia Combine for Double Overtime Heroics in Akron

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AKRON, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – Trailing, 1-0, with six minutes to play in regulation, the Eastern Michigan University women's soccer team roared back to tie the game and win it in double overtime, 2-1, on the road against the University of Akron Sunday afternoon, Oct. 21. Sophomore Emily Dzik scored the game-winner off a corner kick in the 106th minute and clinched home-field advantage in the quarterfinal game of Mid-American Conference Tournament.

The Eagles (10-6-1; 7-3-0 MAC) held on to third place overall in the MAC and are guaranteed a home game in the MAC Tournament quarterfinal by virtue of their win combined with a Ball State University loss to Central Michigan University Sunday. The Green and White can finish no worse than fourth in the conference and still has a chance to share the West Division title with the Chippewas if EMU wins and CMU loses the final game of the regular season Thursday, Oct. 25.

The game remained scoreless until the 73rd minute, when Akron's Kelly Deniro netted the go-ahead marker for the Zips. Then with just over six minutes left in regulation, junior Cara Cutaia scored the equalizer to send the game into overtime.

In extra time, the EMU offense peppered Akron's defense with multiple scoring chances and put the game away when Cutaia perfectly executed a corner kick, which Dzik headed into the goal to send a jubilant Eagles' squad streaming onto the field in celebration.

After a quiet first half, the offense went to work in the second period, with EMU firing 13 second-half shots and six on goal. By the end of the match, the Eagles had accumulated 21 shots with 10 on target. Defensively, the Eagles did a fine job of limiting Akron attackers to just four shots on freshman goalkeeper Megan McCabe, who won her second straight match.

Dzik's overtime winner marked the defender's third-career goal and first points of the 2012 campaign. Cutaia turned in a three-point performance and registered her team-leading 20th point of the season (six goals, eight assists). It was also the third game this season in which the midfielder tallied at least three points in a contest. Sophomroe Marisa Kozikowski also added her third helper of the season on Cutaia's goal.

McCabe did her part to earn the Eagles their second 2-0 road weekend of the MAC season, turning away three-of-four Zips' shots on goal.

Akron (5-11-1; 1-8-1 MAC) lost for the fourth time in the last six games and was already eliminated from postseason contention heading into Sunday's contest with EMU.

The opening 45 minutes of play yielded few scoring chances as sophomore Molli Krick registered the lone shot on goal for the Eagles and Brook Carrel did the same for the Zips.

Play opened up a bit in the second half for both sides. Sophomore Bianca Rossi's shot in the 61st minute was scooped up by Akron goalkeeper Klaire Adee to keep the game scoreless. The tie was broken 12 minutes later when Akron's Katie Wise fed a crossing pass into the box and found Deniro, who banked a shot off the goalpost and past McCabe to put the Zips ahead, 1-0.

A goal against was perhaps just what the Eagles needed to spark their offense, as EMU went on an all-out attack to try and notch the game-tying tally. Junior Stephanie Clarke had a pair of prime opportunities to do just that as her first shot sailed wide of the goal and a second rang off the crossbar and stayed out. The Green and White continued to press as sophomore Angela Vultaggio let off another shot seconds later which was denied by Adee.

In the 84th minute, Eastern Michigan finally overwhelmed the Akron defense as Cutaia took a pass from Kozikowski and sent a kick from the top of the box off the goalpost and past Adee to make it a 1-1 game.

McCabe's save with four minutes remaining kept it a tie game and left the Eagles an opportunity to win it in regulation. In the final minute of the half, EMU received a corner kick. Cutaia's play into the box found sophomore Martha Stevens, whose header missed high as the horn sounded.

After the first overtime period yielded no results for either side, Vultaggio made a bid to end the game in the 103rd minute. Adee was able to make the stop on Vultaggio and preserved the tie. Eastern Michigan did not have to wait long after that to put home the game-winning goal, as Dzik bounced a header past the Akron keeper.

The Eagles wrap up the 2012 regular season at home against Western Michigan University Thursday, Oct. 25. Game time is slated for 3 p.m. at Scicluna Field.

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Team Stats

Cara Cutaia

Emily Dzik

Marisa Kozikowski

Angela Vultaggio

Eastern Michigan Athletics