Eagles Beat Broncos, 2-1, Face Toledo in MAC Quarterfinal Sunday

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — The Eastern Michigan University women's soccer team topped the Western Michigan University Broncos, 2-1, in the final regular-season match of the 2012 campaign Thursday, Oct. 25, at Scicluna Field. The Eagles (11-6-1; 8-3-0 MAC) clinched the third seed in the Mid-American Conference and will host the No. 6-seed and defending tournament champion University of Toledo in the quarterfinal game Sunday, Oct. 28, at 1 p.m.

Eastern Michigan completes the regular season with its best overall win total since 2008, when the squad finished 11-4-5 in pre-tournament play. In MAC contests, EMU posted eight wins for the first time since 2003, when the Green and White went 8-2-2 in conference play. The Eagles fell just one game short of capturing a share of the West Division title, taking second place behind Central Michigan University.

The Broncos (5-8-4; 1-5-4 MAC), who failed to qualify for the MAC Tournament, outshot the Green and White, 21-9, with eight shots on target. But the Eagles made the most of their four shots on goal with two of those finding the back of the net.

Junior Cara Cutaia scored for a second-consecutive contest, netting the game-winning goal in the 11th minute for her seventh of the season. Sophomore Bianca Rossi turned in a three-point afternoon, scoring the first goal (eighth of the season) in the ninth minute and assisting on Cutaia's tally.

Also earning assists in the contest were junior Stephanie Clarke and sophomore Angela Vultaggio. Clarke's assist was good for her ninth point of the year, while Vultaggio recorded her 19th.

Freshman goalkeeper Megan McCabe recorded her third straight win after taking over starting duties for a sidelined Jenna O'Dell. McCabe stopped seven-of-eight WMU shots on goal.

Nicole Hatcliffe scored the goal for the Broncos in the 31st minute.

EMU needed just over eight minutes to notch the opening tally. Vultaggio played a pass near midfield back to Clarke, who forwarded the ball to a wide-open Rossi. Rossi broke in on goal alone, made a series of moves on keeper Michelle Watson, and tapped the ball in for a 1-0 edge.

Cutaia made it a 2-0 lead for the Green and White two minutes later with a point-blank shot off a pass from Rossi. During that same play, Rossi's initial scoring chance was blocked by a Broncos' defender. The rebound fell back to Rossi, who fed a pass across the goal mouth to find Cutaia for the score.

Western Michigan's offense turned up the pressure as the half continued, breaking through for its first goal of the afternoon in the 31st minute. Hatcliffe punched home her first of the season off a corner kick. Lindsey Lee and Lacey Zahn assisted on the goal.

McCabe kept the Broncos from knotting the score at two when she made a diving save through a screen in the 32nd minute.

The first half concluded with the Eagles holding on to a 2-1 lead despite the Broncos maintaining a 10-6 edge in total shots through 45 minutes.

In the 64th minute, McCabe came up with a big save near the left goalpost on a shot from Anina Cicerone. On the ensuing corner, McCabe was once again up to the task when Lee headed a shot on goal.

Western had a pair of opportunities to tie the game in the final five minutes of play. Diana Dedvukaj took both shots with the first going wide right in the 86th minute, while the final shot of the game was denied by McCabe.

2012 MAC Quarterfinal Matchups - Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012
Note: All games played at the site of the team with the best seed.

(8) Ohio at (1) Miami
(7) Northern Illinois at (2) Central Michigan
(6) Toledo at (3) Eastern Michigan
(5) Ball State at (4) Kent State

Eagles Beat Broncos, 2-1, Face Toledo in MAC Quarterfinal Sunday

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Team Stats

Bianca Rossi

Cara Cutaia

Angela Vultaggio

Stephanie Clarke

Eastern Michigan Athletics