EMU Soccer Returns to Action with Windy City Matchup

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- After having the entire week off last week, the Eastern Michigan University soccer team travels to the Windy City, Sept. 21, for its final non-conference contest of the season. The University of Illinois-Chicago (1-6-0) will host the Eagles (3-2-1) with the action beginning at 1 p.m. CST from Flames Field.

POWER PLAYS: The gauntlet of the grueling non-conference schedule continues for Coach Scott Hall and his squad. The Green and White went through a stretch of playing five consecutive games against teams from the five "power" conferences for the fourth-toughest non-conference schedule in the nation. During those contests, the Eagles played .500 soccer, going 2-2-1. EMU started with a 2-0 victory over Indiana at home, before dropping a road matchup at Michigan State and a neutral site contest to nationally-ranked Texas Tech in overtime. Looking to get back on the winning track, the Eagles were successful in their trip to Oregon. EMU and Oregon played to a 1-1 draw before Eastern downed the Oregon State Beavers, 1-0. Similar to last season, the tough non-conference schedule will test EMU and prepare the team for the Mid-American Conference slate.

UNBEATEN ON THE OREGON TRAIL: Flocking to the West Coast for a pair of contests against PAC-12 institutions, the Eagles left the state of Oregon without adding a loss to their record. EMU started its weekend road trip with a 1-1 draw against the University of Oregon, Sept. 7, at Pape´ Field. The Friday night standstill was the first draw of the 2014 regular season for both the Eagles and the Ducks as Oregon saw its three-game winning streak come to an end at the hands of the Green and White. The senior duo of Bianca Rossi and Marisa Kozikowski put the Eagles on the scoreboard midway through the first half. Kozikowski found the head of Rossi on a cross in the box, giving EMU the one-goal advantage and ending Oregon's streak of consecutive shutouts at three games. In goal, Megan McCabe put together a strong performance, making a season-high nine saves.
Ending the weekend, the Eagles shut out the Oregon State University Beavers, 1-0, Sunday afternoon, Sept. 7, at Lorenz Field. Megan Trapp's goal in the ninth minute was all Eastern would need, and McCabe secured her third shutout of the season. For the third straight game, the Eagles scored first as Madison Hirsch found Trapp for an early score. The Green and White controlled the contest throughout all 90 minutes with McCabe only having to stop just one OSU shot on goal to notch the eighth shutout of her career. Defenders Emily Dzik, Hallee Kansman and Kozikowski played the entire game, while Julia Lombardi also started for the EMU defense, seeing 70 minutes.

McCABE RETURNS TO HOME STATE: For the first time in her collegiate career, EMU junior goalkeeper Megan McCabe will play in her home state of Illinois when the Eagles match up against Illinois-Chicago, Sept. 21. The last time Eastern competed in the Prairie State will be exactly two years from Sunday's, match the Eagles took down Northern Illinois 1-0 in DeKalb, Sept. 21, 2012. In that game, McCabe did not see action as she was "true" freshman and backup goalie behind then-redshirt-freshman Jenna O'Dell. The contest in the Windy City will be the first of two homecoming games for McCabe; EMU will return on Oct. 24 by facing Northern Illinois in DeKalb.

FACING THE FLAMES: UIC is 1-6-0 this season, its inaugural season of women's soccer. EMU will be the second MAC team the Flames have faced in 2014 after falling to Western Michigan 3-0, Sept. 14. The team's lone victory came at home on Aug. 31 in a 2-0 win over IUPUI. Prior to hosting the Eagles on Sunday, UIC will square off against Saint Louis at Flames Field, Sept. 19. The Eagles will look to limit scoring opportunities for sophomore forward Jasmin Carrera, who has scored three of UIC's four goals this season. Junior Flo Beshiri scored the other goal, and the duo have combined to take over one-third of the Flames' shots throughout the 2014 campaign. In goal, UIC relies on freshman keeper Kelly Fritz. Making 34 saves in seven games, Fritz also has a shutout to her credit.

GATHERING GOOSE EGGS: As long as you score more goals than the opposition after 90 minutes, you will pick up a victory; however, the 2014 EMU soccer team prefers to not only out-score its opponents, but keep them off the scoreboard for the entire contest. In all three victories this season, the Eagles have shutout their opponents. When the other team scores, Eastern has a record of 0-2-1. The Green and White started off the season with a pair of 2-0 wins over Butler, Aug. 22, and Indiana, Aug. 24. Following a 1-1 draw against Oregon, Sept. 5, EMU shut out Oregon State 1-0, Sept. 7. Junior keeper Megan McCabe was in goal for all three of the Eagles' victories, running her career shutout total to eight. Credit also goes to the EMU starting backline of Emily Dzik, Hallee Kansman, Marisa Kozikowski and Julia Lombardi.

STATISTICAL LEADERS: Through the first one-third of the 2014 campaign, a pair of Eagles find themselves near the top in conference and national rankings. Angela Vultaggio, the 2013 MAC Offensive Player of the Year, has started her senior season off strong to make a case to repeat as the award winner. The Chesterfield, Mich. native leads the conference in goals (4), points (8), goals per game (0.67) and points per game (1.33). Moreover, Vutaggio's goals per game average of 0.67 have found the national rankings, coming in at No. 76 in the country. In goal, Megan McCabe's three shutouts rank second in the MAC, just one behind conference leader Laura Dougall of Buffalo. To go along with her shutouts, the Arlington Heights, Ill. native boasts a save percentage of .880 for the 24th-best mark in the nation. Allowing an average of just .571 goals per game, McCabe ranks second in the MAC as well as 39th nationally.

MILES UPON MILES: After two home exhibition matches as well as two games at Scicluna Field to begin the regular season, EMU is currently in the midst of spending 35 days away from Ypsilanti for six road contests. Before the Eagles return home, Sept. 28, they will travel a total of 3,171 miles during the six-game road trip. The longest venture has been out to the West Coast to face Oregon and Oregon State; the distance from Ypsilanti to Eugene, Ore. is 2,373 miles. Life on the rigorous road ends Sept. 26 in Oxford, Ohio as Eastern battles Miami University to kick off MAC play. Two days later, the team returns home to host Ball State in a Sunday afternoon affair, Sept. 28.

BATTLING THE MAC BIRDS: After facing the Flames of UIC, the Eagles will begin life in the Mid-American Conference. The Green and White will kick off MAC play with a unique weekend that features one game on the road and another at home. The start of the conference slate won't be east as Eastern faces two teams that made the MAC Tournament semifinals in 2013. First, the Eagles soar into Miami for a battle of the birds, facing the RedHawks on Sept. 26 at 4 p.m. Following the MAC opener, EMU returns home for the first time in 35 days, playing host to the Ball State Cardinals. The Sunday afternoon contest is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m., Sept. 28.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Emily Dzik

Madison Hirsch

Hallee Kansman

Marisa Kozikowski

Julia Lombardi

Megan McCabe

Jenna O'Dell

Bianca Rossi

Megan Trapp

Angela Vultaggio

Eastern Michigan Athletics