Eastern Michigan Athletics
Friday, October 11
Scicluna Field
4 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
vs
Ball State
Photo by: Steve King/KingStudios
Eagles Battle the Birds at Scicluna Field This Weekend
10/9/2013 1:15:00 PM | Soccer
EMU soccer takes on Ball State, Oct. 11, and Miami, Oct. 13
Weekly Notes
Coach Hall Interview
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University soccer team returns to Scicluna Field, riding a six game winning streak, to face two Mid-American Conference opponents near the top of their respective divisions with a combined record of 5-2-1. The Green and White host Ball State University Friday, Oct. 11, at 4 p.m. in a West Division showdown. Then, MAC East Division-leading Miami University comes to town, Oct. 13, for a Sunday afternoon contest scheduled for 1 p.m. The Eagles are looking for their seventh and eighth straight victories this weekend which would be the longest streak since rattling off seven consecutive wins during the 2001 season.
Team co-captain Cara Cutaia leads the offensive charge with 18 points on the season, including seven goals, tied for second most in the Mid-American Conference. Following closely behind are juniors Angela Vultaggio and Bianca Rossi, who have six and five goals, respectively. Both forwards, along with seniors Cutaia and Stephanie Clarke, have four assists through the first 12 games of the 2013 campaign to pace the team.
Sophomore goalkeeper Megan McCabe holds down the defensive side of the pitch, stopping 56 shots in 12 games between the posts, the second most saves among all MAC goalies as well as 74th nationally. In EMU's last game, McCabe recorded her first individual shutout of the season as the Eagles defeated Central Michigan University, 3-0, Oct. 6.
Offensively Charged: Due to the recent offensive output in which the Green and White has scored 22 goals in the past six games, EMU leads the conference in several offensive categories including goals (30), assists (32) and points (92); moreover, the Eagles pace the conference in each of those sections when looked at a per-game ratio. In total goals, Western Michigan and Miami are second in the MAC with 23 apiece. Similarly, EMU holds a strong lead in points with 92 while the Broncos and RedHawks follow with 65 points each. Not only does EMU stand at the top of the conference in assists, but that mark also ranks ninth in the nation. Overall, the Eagles boast the country's 19th best scoring offense.
Eagles Increase Winning Streak to Six: EMU hit the MAC road for the first time this season, riding a four game winning streak. The Green and White wasable to increase its streak to six games after victories over Bowling Green, Oct. 4, and Central Michigan, Oct. 6. In a battle against the Falcons under the lights, Coach Scott Hall's squad took advantage of BGSU miscues. After a scoreless first half, an own goal pushed Eastern out in front. Minutes later, a BGSU handball in the box allowed Stephanie Clarke to step up for a penalty kick, and the EMU senior converted her third penalty kick of the season in as many tries, blasting the game-winning goal into the back of the net for a 2-1 victory.
Shutting out the Chippewas, 3-0, Megan McCabe made two saves, playing all 90 minutes to record her first individual shutout of the season. Part of that back line that helped pitch the shutout was junior Emily Dzik, who also added a goal, her second of the season. Angela Vultaggio opened up the EMU scoring, while Cara Cutaia finished it off with a second half goal.
Eastern Michigan Cracks Top-10 in Great Lakes Region: With a tough non-conference slate combined with the current six match winning streak, EMU (7-4-1, 4-0-0) cracked the top 10 in the Great Lakes Region, according to the latest National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/Continental Tire Division I Women's Soccer Poll, released Oct. 8. The Eagles are ranked 10th in the poll and are just one-of-two teams that are not from the Big Ten Conference. Moreover, the Green and White has faced three of the teams in the poll: No. 3 Michigan, No. 7 Indiana and No. 8 Ohio State.
Scouting the Cardinals: Ball State enters Friday's contest with the best overall record in the conference, 8-3-1, including a 3-1-0 mark in MAC play. The Cardinals have not faced anyone that has yet to appear on EMU's schedule, grabbing conference victories over Akron, Buffalo and Ohio, while losing at home against Kent State. Freshman Kelsey Wendlandt leads the team with four goals while teammate Michelle Blok has found the net three times, adding a pair of assists. In net, the Cardinals have evenly split time between goalkeepers Layne Schramm and Brooke Dennis as the two combine for the best goals against average (0.56) and least amount of goals allowed (7). The senior Schramm holds a 4-2-0 record on the season, allowing just three goals while making 27 stops. With a 0.64 goals against average, Dennis has 29 saves along with a record of 4-1-1 in her freshman season at BSU.
EMU leads the all-time series between the two teams, 8-4-2, and the Eagles are looking to take down the Cardinals for the fourth time in the past five seasons. After winning three straight against BSU, Eastern fell in last season's matchup in Muncie, Ind., Oct. 5, 2012, as the Cardinals' lone goal was enough for the win.
Redemption Versus Ball State: For the second consecutive season, the Green and White started MAC play 4-0-0. While the Eagles hope to continue the winning trend, they will have to face a Ball State team that ruined their perfect conference mark last season. In Muncie, Ind., Oct. 5, 2012, EMU's four-game winning streak came to an end as the Cardinals took the low-scoring affair, 1-0. Jenna O'Dell had a busy afternoon, facing seven shots on goal and stopping six. The only shot she did not save ended up going down as the game-winner, a 72nd-minute goal from Maimee Morris. Eastern Michigan's offense was unable to provide much support, managing just a pair of shots on BSU goalkeeper Aubrey Buehler.
The Defending MAC Champions Come to Town: The 2012 MAC Regular Season and Tournament Champions invade Ypsilanti for a Sunday matinee with the Eagles. In the 2013 MAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, the RedHawks were tabbed as the favorites to claim the MAC Tournament Championship and earn an NCAA Tournament berth, receiving eight votes for a predicted repeat title. MU currently sits atop the East with a 2-1-1 conference record and a 5-6-1 mark overall. Sunday's contest will be the 21st between the two programs with EMU holding a slight advantage in the series, 10-9-1.
The RedHawks are led in scoring by seniors Katy Dolesh and Kayla Zakrzewski with 14 points each. Dolesh's six goals are a team best while Zakrzewski's six assists lead the Mid-American Conference. In goal, senior Allison Norenberg holds down the back line, stopping 32 shots on the season while allowing 18 goals for a goals against average of 1.58.
Last Time We Met Miami: A furious second-half rally by the Eagles ended in disappointment as Miami scored the go-ahead tally with five minutes remaining to escape with a 4-3 win Sunday afternoon, Oct. 7, 2012. Eastern Michigan fell behind, 3-1, in the 52nd minute, but Megan Trapp's first-career goal in the 67th minute and Martha Stevens' tally in the 84th minute stunned the home crowd and pulled EMU even. The tie would be broken less than a minute later when Kayla Zakrzewski notched the game-winner for the RedHawks.
Clarke Earns MAC Offensive Player of the Week Accolade: EMU senior forward/midfielder Stephanie Clarke has been named Mid-American Conference Offensive Player of the Week, the conference announced, Oct. 7. Earning her second career weekly award, Clarke becomes the fourth Eagle to be honored as MAC Player of the Week in the past three weeks.
Clarke provided an offensive impact in both of the Eagles' conference road victories this past weekend. The senior scored the game-winning goal in a 2-1 victory over Bowling Green, Oct. 4, converting her third penalty kick of the season in as many attempts. In EMU's 3-0 win against Central Michigan, Oct. 6, Clarke set up two goals. The London, Ontario native found teammate Emily Dzik on a corner kick for the second goal of the match before sending a cross that connected with the head of Cara Cutaia for the game's final goal. Overall, Clarke landed all three of her shots on goal, finding the net once while providing two assists for a weekend total of four points.
A Fresh Start: On the defensive side of the field, a freshman has emerged as a solid piece to the EMU back line during the current winning streak. Freshman Rachel Washburn has started the last four games for the Green and White, playing all 360 minutes of the combined four contests. She recorded her first career point in her first career start against Northern Illinois, Sept 27, as she sent a free kick into the box that connected with the head of teammate Megan Trapp, who blasted the header into the goal.
Cutaia Climbing the Charts: Team co-captain Cara Cutaia has led her team throughout the 2013 campaign, ranking second in the conference in several statistical categories. The senior is tied for second in goals (7) and goals per game (0.58) while she sits alone in second with 18 total points. Averaging 1.50 points per game, the Burlington, Ontario native posts the 66th best average in the nation.
On the Road Again: Following the pair of home contests this weekend, the Eagles hit the road once again to face two MAC East foes in cross-divisional matchups. EMU heads to Athens, Ohio to battle the Bobcats of Ohio University, Oct. 18, before staying in the Buckeye State to take on Kent State, Oct. 20.
Coach Hall Interview
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University soccer team returns to Scicluna Field, riding a six game winning streak, to face two Mid-American Conference opponents near the top of their respective divisions with a combined record of 5-2-1. The Green and White host Ball State University Friday, Oct. 11, at 4 p.m. in a West Division showdown. Then, MAC East Division-leading Miami University comes to town, Oct. 13, for a Sunday afternoon contest scheduled for 1 p.m. The Eagles are looking for their seventh and eighth straight victories this weekend which would be the longest streak since rattling off seven consecutive wins during the 2001 season.
Team co-captain Cara Cutaia leads the offensive charge with 18 points on the season, including seven goals, tied for second most in the Mid-American Conference. Following closely behind are juniors Angela Vultaggio and Bianca Rossi, who have six and five goals, respectively. Both forwards, along with seniors Cutaia and Stephanie Clarke, have four assists through the first 12 games of the 2013 campaign to pace the team.
Sophomore goalkeeper Megan McCabe holds down the defensive side of the pitch, stopping 56 shots in 12 games between the posts, the second most saves among all MAC goalies as well as 74th nationally. In EMU's last game, McCabe recorded her first individual shutout of the season as the Eagles defeated Central Michigan University, 3-0, Oct. 6.
Offensively Charged: Due to the recent offensive output in which the Green and White has scored 22 goals in the past six games, EMU leads the conference in several offensive categories including goals (30), assists (32) and points (92); moreover, the Eagles pace the conference in each of those sections when looked at a per-game ratio. In total goals, Western Michigan and Miami are second in the MAC with 23 apiece. Similarly, EMU holds a strong lead in points with 92 while the Broncos and RedHawks follow with 65 points each. Not only does EMU stand at the top of the conference in assists, but that mark also ranks ninth in the nation. Overall, the Eagles boast the country's 19th best scoring offense.
Eagles Increase Winning Streak to Six: EMU hit the MAC road for the first time this season, riding a four game winning streak. The Green and White wasable to increase its streak to six games after victories over Bowling Green, Oct. 4, and Central Michigan, Oct. 6. In a battle against the Falcons under the lights, Coach Scott Hall's squad took advantage of BGSU miscues. After a scoreless first half, an own goal pushed Eastern out in front. Minutes later, a BGSU handball in the box allowed Stephanie Clarke to step up for a penalty kick, and the EMU senior converted her third penalty kick of the season in as many tries, blasting the game-winning goal into the back of the net for a 2-1 victory.
Shutting out the Chippewas, 3-0, Megan McCabe made two saves, playing all 90 minutes to record her first individual shutout of the season. Part of that back line that helped pitch the shutout was junior Emily Dzik, who also added a goal, her second of the season. Angela Vultaggio opened up the EMU scoring, while Cara Cutaia finished it off with a second half goal.
Eastern Michigan Cracks Top-10 in Great Lakes Region: With a tough non-conference slate combined with the current six match winning streak, EMU (7-4-1, 4-0-0) cracked the top 10 in the Great Lakes Region, according to the latest National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/Continental Tire Division I Women's Soccer Poll, released Oct. 8. The Eagles are ranked 10th in the poll and are just one-of-two teams that are not from the Big Ten Conference. Moreover, the Green and White has faced three of the teams in the poll: No. 3 Michigan, No. 7 Indiana and No. 8 Ohio State.
Scouting the Cardinals: Ball State enters Friday's contest with the best overall record in the conference, 8-3-1, including a 3-1-0 mark in MAC play. The Cardinals have not faced anyone that has yet to appear on EMU's schedule, grabbing conference victories over Akron, Buffalo and Ohio, while losing at home against Kent State. Freshman Kelsey Wendlandt leads the team with four goals while teammate Michelle Blok has found the net three times, adding a pair of assists. In net, the Cardinals have evenly split time between goalkeepers Layne Schramm and Brooke Dennis as the two combine for the best goals against average (0.56) and least amount of goals allowed (7). The senior Schramm holds a 4-2-0 record on the season, allowing just three goals while making 27 stops. With a 0.64 goals against average, Dennis has 29 saves along with a record of 4-1-1 in her freshman season at BSU.
EMU leads the all-time series between the two teams, 8-4-2, and the Eagles are looking to take down the Cardinals for the fourth time in the past five seasons. After winning three straight against BSU, Eastern fell in last season's matchup in Muncie, Ind., Oct. 5, 2012, as the Cardinals' lone goal was enough for the win.
Redemption Versus Ball State: For the second consecutive season, the Green and White started MAC play 4-0-0. While the Eagles hope to continue the winning trend, they will have to face a Ball State team that ruined their perfect conference mark last season. In Muncie, Ind., Oct. 5, 2012, EMU's four-game winning streak came to an end as the Cardinals took the low-scoring affair, 1-0. Jenna O'Dell had a busy afternoon, facing seven shots on goal and stopping six. The only shot she did not save ended up going down as the game-winner, a 72nd-minute goal from Maimee Morris. Eastern Michigan's offense was unable to provide much support, managing just a pair of shots on BSU goalkeeper Aubrey Buehler.
The Defending MAC Champions Come to Town: The 2012 MAC Regular Season and Tournament Champions invade Ypsilanti for a Sunday matinee with the Eagles. In the 2013 MAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, the RedHawks were tabbed as the favorites to claim the MAC Tournament Championship and earn an NCAA Tournament berth, receiving eight votes for a predicted repeat title. MU currently sits atop the East with a 2-1-1 conference record and a 5-6-1 mark overall. Sunday's contest will be the 21st between the two programs with EMU holding a slight advantage in the series, 10-9-1.
The RedHawks are led in scoring by seniors Katy Dolesh and Kayla Zakrzewski with 14 points each. Dolesh's six goals are a team best while Zakrzewski's six assists lead the Mid-American Conference. In goal, senior Allison Norenberg holds down the back line, stopping 32 shots on the season while allowing 18 goals for a goals against average of 1.58.
Last Time We Met Miami: A furious second-half rally by the Eagles ended in disappointment as Miami scored the go-ahead tally with five minutes remaining to escape with a 4-3 win Sunday afternoon, Oct. 7, 2012. Eastern Michigan fell behind, 3-1, in the 52nd minute, but Megan Trapp's first-career goal in the 67th minute and Martha Stevens' tally in the 84th minute stunned the home crowd and pulled EMU even. The tie would be broken less than a minute later when Kayla Zakrzewski notched the game-winner for the RedHawks.
Clarke Earns MAC Offensive Player of the Week Accolade: EMU senior forward/midfielder Stephanie Clarke has been named Mid-American Conference Offensive Player of the Week, the conference announced, Oct. 7. Earning her second career weekly award, Clarke becomes the fourth Eagle to be honored as MAC Player of the Week in the past three weeks.
Clarke provided an offensive impact in both of the Eagles' conference road victories this past weekend. The senior scored the game-winning goal in a 2-1 victory over Bowling Green, Oct. 4, converting her third penalty kick of the season in as many attempts. In EMU's 3-0 win against Central Michigan, Oct. 6, Clarke set up two goals. The London, Ontario native found teammate Emily Dzik on a corner kick for the second goal of the match before sending a cross that connected with the head of Cara Cutaia for the game's final goal. Overall, Clarke landed all three of her shots on goal, finding the net once while providing two assists for a weekend total of four points.
A Fresh Start: On the defensive side of the field, a freshman has emerged as a solid piece to the EMU back line during the current winning streak. Freshman Rachel Washburn has started the last four games for the Green and White, playing all 360 minutes of the combined four contests. She recorded her first career point in her first career start against Northern Illinois, Sept 27, as she sent a free kick into the box that connected with the head of teammate Megan Trapp, who blasted the header into the goal.
Cutaia Climbing the Charts: Team co-captain Cara Cutaia has led her team throughout the 2013 campaign, ranking second in the conference in several statistical categories. The senior is tied for second in goals (7) and goals per game (0.58) while she sits alone in second with 18 total points. Averaging 1.50 points per game, the Burlington, Ontario native posts the 66th best average in the nation.
On the Road Again: Following the pair of home contests this weekend, the Eagles hit the road once again to face two MAC East foes in cross-divisional matchups. EMU heads to Athens, Ohio to battle the Bobcats of Ohio University, Oct. 18, before staying in the Buckeye State to take on Kent State, Oct. 20.
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