EMU Soccer Shuts Down Red Hot RedHawks, 2-0

OXFORD, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University soccer team brought its winning ways from non-conference action into Mid-American Conference play with a 2-0 victory over Miami University Friday afternoon, Sept. 26. The Eagles (5-2-1, 1-0-0 MAC) used a pair of goals in the final minute of both halves, while shutting out the RedHawks (6-2-0, 0-1-0 MAC) on the other side of the field, to pick up a win.

The victory is the third in a row for EMU as well as increasing the team's unbeaten streak to four games. Eastern also snaps Miami's four-game winning streak and is also the first team to keep the RedHawks off the scoreboard in 2014. Miami entered the game with a top-25 RPI of 21st in the nation.

Ellie Tillar scored the game's first goal right at the end of the first half, using a corner kick from Chelsie Oddan and a pass from Emily Dzik to find the back of the net. Angela Vultaggio scored her fifth goal of the season on a counter attack with 16 seconds to go as she and Bianca Rossi took advantage of a two-on-one opportunity. In goal, Megan McCabe (5-1-1) tied her season high by making nine saves for her fourth shutout of the season.

Miami pressured EMU throughout the contest, taking 15 shots compared to just nine for the Green and White. However, the EMU backline held strong for 90 minutes to pitch another shutout against a tough MU team. Miami's Vic Maniaci (1-2-0) stopped five of the Eagles' seven shots.

Shots were flying throughout the first half as both teams were aggressive in hopes of putting the first mark on the scoreboard. Nonetheless, the game remained tied through the first 44 minutes, and it looked as if it would be a scoreless draw going into halftime.

As the seconds ticked down at the end of the first half, the Eagles put together a successful set piece to find the goal. Oddan sent a corner kick into the box where Dzik found her teammate Tillar. The redshirt-sophomore took the ball in front of the keeper and blasted it into the back of the net to give Eastern the 1-0 lead as the half came to a close. The score marked Tillar's second goal in as many games as well as the second of her career after scoring against Illinois-Chicago on Sunday, Sept. 21.

With the late first half goal, EMU certainly had momentum coming out of the break. Conversely, the RedHawks looked to even the score with a game-tying goal. Despite shot after shot going her direction, McCabe stood tall and prevented Miami from finding any openings. She made five saves in the second half, including three in the final eight minutes to preserve the victory and the shutout.

With time running out, MU made one last effort at knotting the contest at one goal apiece. Courtney Zanotti fired a shot on goal, but McCabe made the save with just 36 seconds left. The stop started a counterattack for the Green and White as Rossi and Vultaggio worked the ball down the field with just one defender in between the pair and the goal. Rossi dished off to her teammate, and Vultaggio placed the ball past the keeper to give EMU the 2-0 lead with just 16 seconds remaining. The insurance goal locked up the game as the Eagles came away with a victory in the first conference game of the season.

After a six-game road trip that covered 3,171 miles over a 35-day period, the Eagles return home to the friendly pitch of Scicluna Field. EMU hosts Ball State University for a Sunday afternoon contest, Sept. 28. First touch is set for 1 p.m., and the first 50 students in attendance will receive free food courtesy of Jimmy John's.

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Team Stats

Angela Vultaggio

Ellie Tillar

Chelsie Oddan

Bianca Rossi

Players Mentioned

Emily Dzik

Megan McCabe

Chelsie Oddan

Bianca Rossi

Ellie Tillar

Angela Vultaggio

Players Mentioned

Emily Dzik

Megan McCabe

Chelsie Oddan

Bianca Rossi

Ellie Tillar

Angela Vultaggio

Eastern Michigan Athletics