Eastern Michigan Athletics
Wednesday, August 14
Scicluna Field
3 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
vs
Illinois State (Exhibition)
Soccer Sets Sights on MAC Championship in 2013
8/12/2013 12:04:00 PM | Soccer
The Eagles host Illinois St. for an exhibition match, Aug. 14 at 3 p.m. on Scicluna Field
Coach Hall Interview
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — The Eastern Michigan University soccer team grew leap and bounds, returning to the top portion of the Mid-American Conference during the 2012 season. After a disappointing 3-13-2 mark in 2011, the Eagles posted a record of 11-6-2 in 2012, while going 8-3 in MAC play. The eight conference wins were the most the MAC victories in one season since the Green and White notched the same number of victories during the 2003 season. Following an impressive 2012 season and only losing one Eagle to graduation, the 2013 campaign should be an exciting one as Eastern has set its sights on a MAC championship.
The Eagles will once again be led by 15th-year Head Coach Scott Hall, who has taken the squad to the postseason 11 times with one MAC title in 1999. The 2013 group features 20 returning letterwinners along with 10 starters and six newcomers.
EMU soccer fans will have plenty of opportunity to see the 2013 Eagles in action at Scicluna Field, as the squad plays a total of 11 home games which begins with an exhibition against Illinois State University, Aug. 14, as well as the regular season opener versus the University of Detroit Mercy, Aug. 23.
Defense
The EMU defense lost its captain, the lone senior on the 2012 squad, Jessica Thomas. Nonetheless, All-MAC First Team honoree Emily Dzik (Troy, Mich.-Troy) returns for her junior season to lead a defense that finished fifth in the MAC in goals allowed, giving up 1.21 goals per game.
Senior Emily Kowalzyk (Tinley Park, Ill-Victor J.) and juniors Marisa Kozikowski (Troy, Mich.-Athens) and Hallee Kansman (Farmington Hills, Mich.-North Farmington) also return to the defensive side of the ball. After seeing 30 games combined during the 2011 season, the trio played in 43 games, including 36 starts. Kowalzyk saw action in 11 games last season, while Kozikowski started all 19 matches and Kansmann played in 13 contests.
Coach Hall will put the remainder of the defensive duties on returners Jennifer Bentley (London, Ontario-London Secondary) and Julia Lombardi (Oakville, Ontario-Abbey Park), as well as a group of newcomers which includes: Madi Criner (Moscow, Idaho-Moscow), Madison Hirsch (Troy, Mich.-Troy), Gabriella Mancini (Troy, Mich.-Athens), Rachel Washburn (Hartland, Mich.-Hartland).
Goalkeeping
Eastern returns its two goalkeepers from a season ago in Jenna O'Dell (Troy, Mich.-Athens (Iowa State)). The redshirt sophomore started 16 games for the Green and White, compiling a record of 8-6-2 that included five shutouts. O'Dell ranked second in the MAC in save percentage (.811), saves (90) and saves per game (5.62).
In her three starts for the Eagles, Megan McCabe (Arlington Heights, Ill.-Prospect) allowed just two goals, finishing her freshman season with a 3-0-0 record. Redshirt sophomore Anna Vess (Shelby Twp., Mich.-Eisenhower) could also see action in goal for the Eagles.
Forwards
The forwards will be led by the lethal one-two punch of All-MAC First Team selection Bianca Rossi (Mississauga, Ontario-St. Marcellinus) and Angela Vultaggio (Chesterfield, Mich.-L'Anse Creuse North), who was the MAC Freshman of the Year in 2011.
Rossi, also an All-MAC Freshman Team selection in 2011 and first-time recipient of first-team honors, was the leading goal-scorer for the Eagles and fourth in the MAC last season with eight goals in 2012. Four of those goals turned out to be game-winning tallies.
There was no sophomore slump for Vultaggio as she continued to produce in her second season for the Eagles. Last year, she led the MAC in shots per game (3.21), blasting six of those shots into the net. Combining her six goals with seven assists, Vultaggio's 19 points were third-best on the team.
Also contributing to the EMU attack this season will be a pair of seniors in Stephanie Clarke (London, Ontario-St. Thomas Aquinas) and Allison Kaim (Palos Hills, Ill.-AA Stagg) as well as Megan Trapp (Plymouth, Mich.-Canton) and newcomers Hirsch and Michelle Rollins (Hartland, Mich.-Hartland).
Midfield
The Eagles welcome back their entire midfield, and the veteran squad will look to control ball possession in the middle of the pitch. Senior Cara Cutaia (Burlington, Ontario-Nortre Dame Catholic) will direct the group after receiving All-MAC Second Team accolades in 2012. The Burlington, Ontario native finished fifth in the conference in assists with eight while also tallying 22 points on the year for the ninth-most in the MAC. Fellow senior Megan Pedro (Fort Wayne, Ind.-Canterbury) will also lead Eastern in the midfield after starting 8 games for the Green and White a season ago.
Along with Cutaia and Pedro, reshirt junior Chelsie Oddan (Calgary, Alberta-Central Memorial) and juniors Molli Krick (Novi, Mich.-Novi) and Martha Stevens (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.-Marian) are expected to contribute to EMU's bid for a MAC West Division title. Ellie Tillar (Cincinnati, Ohio-Turpin) is coming off her freshman season where she appeared in nine gamess, and incoming freshman Stefanie Barcelos (Mississauga, Ontario-St. Marcellinus) will look to make an impact as well.
Schedule
The Green and White will take Scicluna Field against Illinois State , Aug. 14, kicking off the 2013-14 EMU sports season. The exhibition against the Redbirds is 1-of-11 matches set to take place on the home pitch this season. EMU also begins the regular season portion of the schedule at home, battling the Detroit Titans Friday, Aug. 23, at 5 p.m.
Following the season opener at home, the Eagles hit the road for four straight matches, including three against members of the Big Ten Conference. Coach Hall's squad will head south to Columbus, Ohio, Aug. 25, to face Ohio State University. Five days later, the team makes the short trek over to Ann Arbor to tussle with the University of Michigan. Wrapping up the road trip, Eastern travels to Indiana for a weekend, competing against the Indiana University Hoosiers, Sept. 6, before battling the Butler University Bulldogs, Sept. 8.
EMU returns to the friendly confines of Scicluna Field for a five-game homestand that completes the non-conference campaign and begins the conference slate. Michigan State University comes to town for a Sunday matinee, Sept. 15, while the Eagles host Stetson University and Indiana State University the following weekend, Sept. 20-22.
Mid-American Conference play starts with a weekend at home. The Green and White welcomes Northern Illinois University and the University of Toledo, Sept. 27 and Sept. 29, before going back on the road to Bowling Green and Central Michigan. Eastern continues to alternate weekends at home and on the road for the rest of the season. A date with defending MAC Champion Miami University highlights the remainder of the home schedule. The battle of the birds between the Eagles and the RedHawks is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 13, at 1 p.m.
The Eagles hope their season does not end Oct. 31 at Western Michigan University. If EMU finishes in the conference's top-eight, it will qualify for MAC Tournament play, competing in quarterfinal action, Nov. 3. The highest seeds will host the semifinals, Nov. 8, and the highest remaining seed will host the MAC Tournament Championship, Sunday, Nov. 10.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — The Eastern Michigan University soccer team grew leap and bounds, returning to the top portion of the Mid-American Conference during the 2012 season. After a disappointing 3-13-2 mark in 2011, the Eagles posted a record of 11-6-2 in 2012, while going 8-3 in MAC play. The eight conference wins were the most the MAC victories in one season since the Green and White notched the same number of victories during the 2003 season. Following an impressive 2012 season and only losing one Eagle to graduation, the 2013 campaign should be an exciting one as Eastern has set its sights on a MAC championship.
The Eagles will once again be led by 15th-year Head Coach Scott Hall, who has taken the squad to the postseason 11 times with one MAC title in 1999. The 2013 group features 20 returning letterwinners along with 10 starters and six newcomers.
EMU soccer fans will have plenty of opportunity to see the 2013 Eagles in action at Scicluna Field, as the squad plays a total of 11 home games which begins with an exhibition against Illinois State University, Aug. 14, as well as the regular season opener versus the University of Detroit Mercy, Aug. 23.
Defense
The EMU defense lost its captain, the lone senior on the 2012 squad, Jessica Thomas. Nonetheless, All-MAC First Team honoree Emily Dzik (Troy, Mich.-Troy) returns for her junior season to lead a defense that finished fifth in the MAC in goals allowed, giving up 1.21 goals per game.
Senior Emily Kowalzyk (Tinley Park, Ill-Victor J.) and juniors Marisa Kozikowski (Troy, Mich.-Athens) and Hallee Kansman (Farmington Hills, Mich.-North Farmington) also return to the defensive side of the ball. After seeing 30 games combined during the 2011 season, the trio played in 43 games, including 36 starts. Kowalzyk saw action in 11 games last season, while Kozikowski started all 19 matches and Kansmann played in 13 contests.
Coach Hall will put the remainder of the defensive duties on returners Jennifer Bentley (London, Ontario-London Secondary) and Julia Lombardi (Oakville, Ontario-Abbey Park), as well as a group of newcomers which includes: Madi Criner (Moscow, Idaho-Moscow), Madison Hirsch (Troy, Mich.-Troy), Gabriella Mancini (Troy, Mich.-Athens), Rachel Washburn (Hartland, Mich.-Hartland).
Goalkeeping
Eastern returns its two goalkeepers from a season ago in Jenna O'Dell (Troy, Mich.-Athens (Iowa State)). The redshirt sophomore started 16 games for the Green and White, compiling a record of 8-6-2 that included five shutouts. O'Dell ranked second in the MAC in save percentage (.811), saves (90) and saves per game (5.62).
In her three starts for the Eagles, Megan McCabe (Arlington Heights, Ill.-Prospect) allowed just two goals, finishing her freshman season with a 3-0-0 record. Redshirt sophomore Anna Vess (Shelby Twp., Mich.-Eisenhower) could also see action in goal for the Eagles.
Forwards
The forwards will be led by the lethal one-two punch of All-MAC First Team selection Bianca Rossi (Mississauga, Ontario-St. Marcellinus) and Angela Vultaggio (Chesterfield, Mich.-L'Anse Creuse North), who was the MAC Freshman of the Year in 2011.
Rossi, also an All-MAC Freshman Team selection in 2011 and first-time recipient of first-team honors, was the leading goal-scorer for the Eagles and fourth in the MAC last season with eight goals in 2012. Four of those goals turned out to be game-winning tallies.
There was no sophomore slump for Vultaggio as she continued to produce in her second season for the Eagles. Last year, she led the MAC in shots per game (3.21), blasting six of those shots into the net. Combining her six goals with seven assists, Vultaggio's 19 points were third-best on the team.
Also contributing to the EMU attack this season will be a pair of seniors in Stephanie Clarke (London, Ontario-St. Thomas Aquinas) and Allison Kaim (Palos Hills, Ill.-AA Stagg) as well as Megan Trapp (Plymouth, Mich.-Canton) and newcomers Hirsch and Michelle Rollins (Hartland, Mich.-Hartland).
Midfield
The Eagles welcome back their entire midfield, and the veteran squad will look to control ball possession in the middle of the pitch. Senior Cara Cutaia (Burlington, Ontario-Nortre Dame Catholic) will direct the group after receiving All-MAC Second Team accolades in 2012. The Burlington, Ontario native finished fifth in the conference in assists with eight while also tallying 22 points on the year for the ninth-most in the MAC. Fellow senior Megan Pedro (Fort Wayne, Ind.-Canterbury) will also lead Eastern in the midfield after starting 8 games for the Green and White a season ago.
Along with Cutaia and Pedro, reshirt junior Chelsie Oddan (Calgary, Alberta-Central Memorial) and juniors Molli Krick (Novi, Mich.-Novi) and Martha Stevens (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.-Marian) are expected to contribute to EMU's bid for a MAC West Division title. Ellie Tillar (Cincinnati, Ohio-Turpin) is coming off her freshman season where she appeared in nine gamess, and incoming freshman Stefanie Barcelos (Mississauga, Ontario-St. Marcellinus) will look to make an impact as well.
Schedule
The Green and White will take Scicluna Field against Illinois State , Aug. 14, kicking off the 2013-14 EMU sports season. The exhibition against the Redbirds is 1-of-11 matches set to take place on the home pitch this season. EMU also begins the regular season portion of the schedule at home, battling the Detroit Titans Friday, Aug. 23, at 5 p.m.
Following the season opener at home, the Eagles hit the road for four straight matches, including three against members of the Big Ten Conference. Coach Hall's squad will head south to Columbus, Ohio, Aug. 25, to face Ohio State University. Five days later, the team makes the short trek over to Ann Arbor to tussle with the University of Michigan. Wrapping up the road trip, Eastern travels to Indiana for a weekend, competing against the Indiana University Hoosiers, Sept. 6, before battling the Butler University Bulldogs, Sept. 8.
EMU returns to the friendly confines of Scicluna Field for a five-game homestand that completes the non-conference campaign and begins the conference slate. Michigan State University comes to town for a Sunday matinee, Sept. 15, while the Eagles host Stetson University and Indiana State University the following weekend, Sept. 20-22.
Mid-American Conference play starts with a weekend at home. The Green and White welcomes Northern Illinois University and the University of Toledo, Sept. 27 and Sept. 29, before going back on the road to Bowling Green and Central Michigan. Eastern continues to alternate weekends at home and on the road for the rest of the season. A date with defending MAC Champion Miami University highlights the remainder of the home schedule. The battle of the birds between the Eagles and the RedHawks is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 13, at 1 p.m.
The Eagles hope their season does not end Oct. 31 at Western Michigan University. If EMU finishes in the conference's top-eight, it will qualify for MAC Tournament play, competing in quarterfinal action, Nov. 3. The highest seeds will host the semifinals, Nov. 8, and the highest remaining seed will host the MAC Tournament Championship, Sunday, Nov. 10.
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