Eastern Michigan Athletics
Sunday, September 28
Scicluna Field
1 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
6-2-1, 2-0-0MAC
2
vs
1
Ball State
5-2-2, 1-1-0MAC
1
2
OT 2
F
Ball State
1
0
0
1
Eastern Michigan
1
0
1
2
Photo by: Steve King/KingStudios
Eagles Rally Past Ball State, 2-1, in Overtime
9/28/2014 4:37:00 PM | Soccer
Senior Bianca Rossi scored twice for EMU soccer, including the golden goal in the fourth minute of overtime
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The first home game in 35 days proved to be a memorable one as the Eastern Michigan University soccer team rallied from one goal down to beat Ball State University, 2-1, in overtime Sunday afternoon, Sept. 28, at Scicluna Field. Senior Bianca Rossi scored both goals for the Eagles (6-2-1, 2-0-0 MAC), including the game-winner just four minutes into overtime to cap off a perfect opening Mid-American Conference weekend for the Green and White.
The match was not only a major victory in Eastern's hopes of defending its MAC regular season title, but it was also a milestone win. The overtime victory over the Cardinals (5-2-2, 1-1-0 MAC) was the program's 100th win at Scicluna Field, improving its record to 100-44-24 over the team's 20-year history. The century mark was also reached by EMU Head Coach Scott Hall, who won his 100th MAC game at the helm of the EMU soccer, becoming just the second coach in conference history to accomplish the feat.
Rossi's scoring performance was the second multi-goal game of her career as she also scored twice against Oakland during the 2012 season. Rossi took seven of EMU's 11 shots throughout the 94 minutes of play, landing four of them on goal.
Senior teammates Chelsie Oddan and Martha Stevens provided the assists on the two EMU goals in the 35th and 94th minutes, respectively. Not to be forgotten, junior goalkeeper Megan McCabe (6-1-0) was fantastic between the posts, making save after save to keep the Eagles in the match. The Arlington Heights, Ill. native completed a strong weekend with seven saves against Ball State. McCabe saw 23 shots from 11 different Cardinals, but only allowed a single goal early in the first half as she constantly sacrificed her body to prevent the ball from finding the back of the net.
Ball State out-shot the Eagles 23-11, including 8-4 in attempts on goal. Jasmine Moses scored the Cardinals' lone goal, putting her team up in the seventh minute of the contest. BSU took seven corner kicks, while not allowing Eastern to earn any corner set pieces. In goal, Brooke Dennis (5-2-2) stopped two-of-four shots sent her direction, all by Rossi.
The visitors struck first as Moses found the back of the net just seven minutes into the game. Sprinting down the left side of the pitch, Gabby Feldman snuck a cross into the box. Trying to prevent a quality scoring opportunity, McCabe reached out to grab the ball, but it deflected off her fingers. With the ball remaining in the danger zone, it found the feet of Moses who put the ball in the goal for the early 1-0 lead.
Falling behind was unfamiliar territory for the Green and White as the Eagles failed to score the game's first goal for just the second time this season. However, EMU remained calm, cool and collected behind a solid defense, using patience to find its best scoring chance. That opportunity finally came in the 35th minute as Oddan placed the ball in the box for her teammate Rossi. Making a couple of swift moves with her feet, the senior bought enough time to see an opening in the net before blasting a strike into the upper right corner of the goal to tie the game. Looking to re-claim the lead before halftime, the Cardinals shot two attempts on target, but both found the hands of McCabe as the two MAC teams went into the break at a 1-1 standstill.
BSU controlled the majority of the first half, holding a 14-5 advantage in shots over the EMU. McCabe made four first half saves, and the only Eastern shot on goal during the first 45 minutes found the back of the net.
Neither team scored in the second half, but there were multiple chances as Ball State took seven shots compared to five by Eastern Michigan. Each goalkeeper made two saves, including a diving stop by McCabe with just 13 minutes remaining in regulation. The EMU keeper also got her hand on a potential goal in the 75th minute, knocking the ball out of play and keeping the game knotted at one goal apiece after 90 minutes.
The game nearly ended 18 seconds into overtime as Elaina Musleh fired a shot at the corner of the goal; however, like she did all afternoon, McCabe made a full-extension save to keep the Cardinals from rejoicing a victory. Three minutes later, after another Musleh shot missed wide, McCabe used a goal kick to push the ball up the field. The big boot started an EMU attack as Stevens and Rossi quickly found themselves in a two-on-one situation. Controlling the ball down the center of the field, Stevens passed to Rossi on her right. While Dennis came off her line to increase the angle difficulty, Rossi banged a strike past the BSU keeper for the golden goal, securing the EMU victory as her teammates ran onto the field to join the celebration.
Following the 2-0-0 start to defending the MAC regular season crown, the Eagles will hit the road once again for another pair of conference games. First, EMU heads to the University of Akron to face the Zips, Oct. 3, in a Friday night matchup. The contest is set to begin at 7 p.m. under the lights of Cub Cadet Field. Ending the weekend, Eastern will square off against the Bulls of the University at Buffalo, Oct. 5, at noon.
The match was not only a major victory in Eastern's hopes of defending its MAC regular season title, but it was also a milestone win. The overtime victory over the Cardinals (5-2-2, 1-1-0 MAC) was the program's 100th win at Scicluna Field, improving its record to 100-44-24 over the team's 20-year history. The century mark was also reached by EMU Head Coach Scott Hall, who won his 100th MAC game at the helm of the EMU soccer, becoming just the second coach in conference history to accomplish the feat.
Rossi's scoring performance was the second multi-goal game of her career as she also scored twice against Oakland during the 2012 season. Rossi took seven of EMU's 11 shots throughout the 94 minutes of play, landing four of them on goal.
Senior teammates Chelsie Oddan and Martha Stevens provided the assists on the two EMU goals in the 35th and 94th minutes, respectively. Not to be forgotten, junior goalkeeper Megan McCabe (6-1-0) was fantastic between the posts, making save after save to keep the Eagles in the match. The Arlington Heights, Ill. native completed a strong weekend with seven saves against Ball State. McCabe saw 23 shots from 11 different Cardinals, but only allowed a single goal early in the first half as she constantly sacrificed her body to prevent the ball from finding the back of the net.
Ball State out-shot the Eagles 23-11, including 8-4 in attempts on goal. Jasmine Moses scored the Cardinals' lone goal, putting her team up in the seventh minute of the contest. BSU took seven corner kicks, while not allowing Eastern to earn any corner set pieces. In goal, Brooke Dennis (5-2-2) stopped two-of-four shots sent her direction, all by Rossi.
The visitors struck first as Moses found the back of the net just seven minutes into the game. Sprinting down the left side of the pitch, Gabby Feldman snuck a cross into the box. Trying to prevent a quality scoring opportunity, McCabe reached out to grab the ball, but it deflected off her fingers. With the ball remaining in the danger zone, it found the feet of Moses who put the ball in the goal for the early 1-0 lead.
Falling behind was unfamiliar territory for the Green and White as the Eagles failed to score the game's first goal for just the second time this season. However, EMU remained calm, cool and collected behind a solid defense, using patience to find its best scoring chance. That opportunity finally came in the 35th minute as Oddan placed the ball in the box for her teammate Rossi. Making a couple of swift moves with her feet, the senior bought enough time to see an opening in the net before blasting a strike into the upper right corner of the goal to tie the game. Looking to re-claim the lead before halftime, the Cardinals shot two attempts on target, but both found the hands of McCabe as the two MAC teams went into the break at a 1-1 standstill.
BSU controlled the majority of the first half, holding a 14-5 advantage in shots over the EMU. McCabe made four first half saves, and the only Eastern shot on goal during the first 45 minutes found the back of the net.
Neither team scored in the second half, but there were multiple chances as Ball State took seven shots compared to five by Eastern Michigan. Each goalkeeper made two saves, including a diving stop by McCabe with just 13 minutes remaining in regulation. The EMU keeper also got her hand on a potential goal in the 75th minute, knocking the ball out of play and keeping the game knotted at one goal apiece after 90 minutes.
The game nearly ended 18 seconds into overtime as Elaina Musleh fired a shot at the corner of the goal; however, like she did all afternoon, McCabe made a full-extension save to keep the Cardinals from rejoicing a victory. Three minutes later, after another Musleh shot missed wide, McCabe used a goal kick to push the ball up the field. The big boot started an EMU attack as Stevens and Rossi quickly found themselves in a two-on-one situation. Controlling the ball down the center of the field, Stevens passed to Rossi on her right. While Dennis came off her line to increase the angle difficulty, Rossi banged a strike past the BSU keeper for the golden goal, securing the EMU victory as her teammates ran onto the field to join the celebration.
Following the 2-0-0 start to defending the MAC regular season crown, the Eagles will hit the road once again for another pair of conference games. First, EMU heads to the University of Akron to face the Zips, Oct. 3, in a Friday night matchup. The contest is set to begin at 7 p.m. under the lights of Cub Cadet Field. Ending the weekend, Eastern will square off against the Bulls of the University at Buffalo, Oct. 5, at noon.
Team Stats
BSU
EMU
Goals
1
2
Shots
23
11
Shots on Goal
8
4
Saves
2
7
Corners
7
0
Fouls
6
6
Scoring Plays
MOSES, Jasmine (1)
Assisted By: VELDMAN, Gabby
cross from 4, deflected by keeper, finis
6:28
ROSSI, Bianca (2)
Assisted By: ODDAN, Chelsie , VULTAGGIO, Angela
GOAL by EMU ROSSI, Bianca, Assist by ODDAN, Chelsie and VULTAGGIO, Angela, goal number 2 for season.
34:03
ROSSI, Bianca (3)
Assisted By: STEVENS, Martha
20 found 18 in 2on1, shot from top right
93:54
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
7
SOG
4
Goals
2
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
0
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
0
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Players Mentioned
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