Eagles Take Advantage of BGSU Miscues for, 2-1, Road Victory

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University soccer team pounced on mistakes made by the Bowling Green State University Falcons, as the Green and White increased its winning streak to five with a 2-1 victory under the lights of Cochrane Field, Oct. 4. The road victory was the first of the season for the Eagles as they improved to 6-4-1 on the season, including a 3-0-0 mark in Mid-American Conference action. EMU has now won five consecutive games, its longest streak since rattling off seven straight victories during the 2001 campaign.

Stephanie Clarke (London, Ontario-St. Thomas Aquinas) scored the game-winning goal for EMU, converting her third penalty kick of the season in as many tries after a BGSU (0-9-0, 0-3-0 MAC) handball in the box. The Eagles scored its first goal of the contest on an own goal early in the second half. Eastern sent 14 of its 27 shots on goal, but BGSU goalkeeper Lauren Cadel (0-9-0) stopped 12 of them.

Megan McCabe (Arlington Heights, Ill.-Prospect) (6-4-1) picked up her fifth consecutive victory in net for the Eagles, making four saves and only allowing the Falcons' lone goal in the 52nd minute by Taylor Bucaro. While each team committed seven fouls apiece, EMU controlled corner kicks (6-4), shots (27-12) and shots on goal (12-5).

Despite the Eagles outshooting Bowling Green, 15-6, including 8-2 in shots on goal during the first 45 minutes of play, neither team was able to find the open net. In the fourth minute, Clark sent a corner kick in that connected with defender Emily Dzik (Troy, Mich.-Troy); however, Cadel got in front of Dzik's header to make the save. Clarke blasted a shot of her own, but it was also denied by the BGSU goalkeeper.

BGSU sent its first shot on goal in the 39th minute, but McCabe made the stop. Five minutes later with the first half coming to a close, the sophomore goalie lunged to prevent a goal by Madeline Wideman, keeping the game scoreless at the break.

The Eagles caught a break early in the second half as Angela Vultaggio (Chesterfield, Mich.- L'Anse Creuse North) sent a low cross from the right side into the box. Cadel came off of the line to try and secure the ball, but her defending teammate deflected the ball into the vacated net, giving EMU the first score of the contest.

Two minutes later, EMU capitalized on another opportunity two minutes later. The Falcons were called for a handball in the box on an Eastern free kick, allowing Clarke to step up for her third penalty kick of the 2013 campaign. Just like she has done in her previous two tries, the senior found the back of the net to double the advantage, 2-0, in the 51st minute.

Bowling Green wasted no time cutting into the deficit, scoring 51 seconds later as Bucaro blasted a long ball over the outstretched McCabe to make it 2-1 in favor of the Eagles. The Falcons sent two shots towards the net in the remaining time, but McCabe and the EMU defense held strong, keeping the winning streak going as the perfect conference mark alive.

EMU will continue on the road, traveling to Central Michigan University for a match Sunday afternoon, Oct. 6. The rivalry on the pitch is set to begin at 1 p.m.

Eagles Take Advantage of BGSU Miscues for, 2-1, Road Victory

Next Event

Team Stats

Stephanie Clarke

Angela Vultaggio

Bianca Rossi

Martha Stevens

Eastern Michigan Athletics