Deakin's First Career Goal Lifts EMU to 1-0 Win Over Butler

Hall Postgame Interview

Deakin Postgame Interview

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — Freshman Sarah Deakin's first-career goal in the 65th minute sent the Eastern Michigan University women's soccer team to a 1-0 victory over Butler University Sunday afternoon, Aug. 26, at Scicluna Field. The Green and White concluded its three-game homestand with a 1-1-1 mark and knocked off the Bulldogs (2-2-0) for the first time in program history.

Eastern Michigan had several scoring chances in the opening 20 minutes, but could not find the go-ahead tally. The scoreless tie was nearly broken by Butler at the beginning of the second half, but the Eagles were helped out by the crossbar on several occasions.

Momentum shifted in the home team's favor when Deakin maneuvered around goalkeeper Mackenzie Hopkins and put the Eagles in the lead. The EMU defense posted a strong showing and kept Butler off the scoreboard for the remainder of the match.

Redshirt freshman goalkeeper Jenna O'Dell notched her first collegiate shutout and victory as well as her first at EMU since transfering from Iowa State University last season. O'Dell made 10 saves and has now stopped 24-of-29 (.828) shots faced over her first three games. For the Eagles, it was their first shutout since blanking Northern Illinois University, 1-0, Oct. 14, 2011.

In the 11th minute, sophomore Angela Vultaggio caught a pass from junior Stephanie Clarke and beat a defender into the penalty area. Vultaggio's shot was labeled for the top-left corner of the goal, but Hopkins came up with a big save to keep the match scoreless.

Vultaggio had another prime scoring chance in the 20th minute when she broke in one-on-one with the goaltender. Hopkins came out to challenge Vultaggio, who stepped around her and faced the open goal. Her shot, however, was slightly off target and sailed wide on the short side.

Butler outshot EMU in the first half, 10-5, but the EMU defense kept the Bulldogs to largely outside shots which were corralled easily by O'Dell. The Bulldogs fired one final shot on goal before the halftime horn sounded, but failed to score.

The second half began with a flurry of activity in front of the Eagles' goal. An initial shot by Sophia Maccagnone tipped off the hands of O'Dell and ricocheted off the crossbar back in front of the goal mouth, where Elise Kotsakis was waiting. With a wide open goal, Kotsakis' shot hit square off the crossbar and again came back down into play. The rebound was played by Randi DeLong, whose shot was blocked away in front of the goal.

The Bulldogs controlled much of the pace through the first portion of the second half until Deakin's goal in the 65th minute. EMU had the ball inside the attacking zone on the right side. Senior Jessica Thomas forwarded a pass to Vultaggio who fed Deakin inside the penalty area. Hopkins came out of the goal to challenge Deakin, but the Arva, Ontario native scooted by and tapped the ball into the yawning cage.

Luck was again on the Eagles' side in the 83rd minute as a hard line drive off the foot of Caroline Kowal beat O'Dell but hit the left goalpost and skipped harmlessly away. EMU held Butler off the scoreboard for the remaining seven minutes and celebrated its first victory of the young season.

The Eagles will head to San Antonio, Texas for their first road trip of the year, Aug. 31, at UTSA. Game time is slated for 7 p.m. CST.

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Team Stats

Sarah Deakin

Angela Vultaggio

Jessica Thomas

Chelsie Oddan

Eastern Michigan Athletics