Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
Indiana
Eagles Close Out Road Trip in Indiana
9/4/2013 1:19:00 PM | Soccer
EMU soccer travels to Indiana, Sept. 6, and Butler, Sept. 8
Coach Hall Interview
Weekly Notes
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University women's soccer team (1-2-0) will conclude its current four-game road trip with a pair of matches in Indiana. The Eagles will tangle with the Hoosiers of Indiana University Friday evening, Sept. 6 before heading to the state's capital, Indianapolis, for a Sunday matinee against Butler University, Sept. 8.
For the third consecutive match, Eastern (1-2-0) will face an opponent from the Big Ten Conference. Indiana (3-0-1) is coming off its first non-win of the season, a 0-0 draw against Loyola-Chicago, while Butler (4-1-0) has won four straight after dropping its season opener against Louisville. The Eagles are looking to snap a two-game losing streak after falling 2-1 in overtime in both contests to nationally-ranked foes Ohio State and Michigan.
Offensively, EMU is led by senior Cara Cutaia and Angela Vultaggio with five and four points, respectively. Cutaia's two goals are a team best while Vultaggio, Bianca Rossi and Martha Stevens have all found the net once this season.
Sophomore Megan McCabe has been between the posts for the Green and White throughout the 2013 campaign. Her 17 saves rank second in the Mid-American Conference while allowing two goals in each of EMU's three matches.
Hailing From the Hoosier State: While EMU will be on the road in Indiana this weekend, there is one Eagle who will feel right at home in the Hoosier State. Team co-captain Megan Pedro returns to her home state for the two matches. The senior midfielder is a native of Fort Wayne, Ind., graduating from Canterbury School.
Hoosiers Host the Eagles: EMU and Indiana will meet on the pitch for the first time in history when the two square off Friday evening, Sept. 6, at 6 p.m. The match will be broadcast on BTN.com, but only College Sports Network All Access subscribers will be able to view the contest. IU sophomore Max Gabovitch will have the call from Bill Armstrong Stadium.
Battle With Butler: Sunday's 1 p.m. matchup on Sept. 8 will mark the third straight year a match between EMU and Butler has taken place. The Eagles and Bulldogs have faced one another three times in the past with each match resulting in a different outcome. With the series tied at 1-1-1, both teams will be battling to gain an advantage in the all-time series. Eastern was able to knot the series up in the last meeting, earning a 1-0 victory over Butler at Scicluna Field, Aug. 26, 2012.
Butler will host EMU for the first time as a member of the Big East Conference. The conference shift is the second in as many years for Butler. Prior to last season, the Bulldogs left the Horizon League to join the Atlantic 10 before deciding to join the rejuvenated Big East this year.
Last Time We Met: With a narrow 1-0 victory over Butler, the Green and White knocked off the Bulldogs for the first time in program history, Aug. 26, 2012. An EMU goal in the 65th minute proved to be the difference. EMU goalkeeper Jenna O'Dell made 10 saves to notch her first collegiate shutout and victory, as well as her first at EMU since transfering from Iowa State University after the 2011 season. For the Eagles, it was their first shutout since blanking Northern Illinois University, 1-0, Oct. 14, 2011.
Taking Two Nationally-Ranked Teams to OT: For the second time in as many games, Eastern took a nationally-ranked team to overtime, as No. 14-ranked Michigan clipped the Eagles, 2-1, Aug. 30. Bianca Rossi scored the Eagles' lone goal with just 8:30 to go in regulation, forcing the game into overtime. However, with 26 left in the first overtime, Michigan midfielder Meghan Toohey scored the game-winning goal over the outstretched arm of Megan McCabe. The EMU sophomore goalkeeper had an outstanding game, diving to make save after save, tallying a toal of eight on the night.
The loss was eerily similar to the setback against No. 23-ranked Ohio State, Aug. 25. A 1-1 tie after the match's first 90 minutes forced extra time before the Buckeyes scored in the 99th minute to escape with the win.
Cutaia Climbing the MAC Charts: An Academic All-Mid-American Conference and All-MAC Second Team honoree a season ago, senior midfielder Cara Cutaia ranks third in the conference in goals (2) as well as shots (12) following the first two weekends of the season.
Against the Titans, Aug. 23, Cutaia connected with Angela Vultaggio for the Green and White's first goal of the season. In the second half, she provided the game-tying goal before another EMU goal gave the Eagles the victory.
Cutaia gave the Eagles an early 1-0 lead on the road against the nationally-ranked Buckeyes, Aug. 25. However, OSU would score in the second half as well as overtime to win the tightly-contested match, 2-1.
Back To Ypsilanti: Up next, the Eagles begin a five-game homestand back at Scicluna Field. EMU welcomes its fourth and final Big Ten opponent of the season, Sept. 15, as Michigan State University comes to town. The following week, Eastern closes out the non-conference slate with a pair of home matchups against Stetson University, Sept. 20, and Indiana State University, Sept. 22. The Eagles begin MAC play at Scicluna Field, Sept. 27 and Sept. 29, welcoming Northern Illinois University and the University of Toledo to Ypsilanti, respectively.
Rigorous Non-Conference Slate: Nothing will come easily for the Green and White this season as Coach Scott Hall hopes a grueling non-conference schedule will prepare the Eagles for MAC play. So far, the Eagles have faced two nationally-ranked teams in Ohio State and Michigan, taking both teams to overtime before falling by a 2-1 decision in back-to-back contests taking place away from the friendly confines of Scicluna Field. The teams on Eastern's non-conference schedule currently post a combined record of 20-6-5. With a .726 winning percentage, the Eagles' road to MAC play is a difficult one to travel.
