Eagles' Postseason Hopes Hinge on Thursday's Showdown with Bowling Green

EMU'S REGULAR SEASON FINALE AT HOME: The Eagles will close out the regular season portion of the 2015 slate at home against the Bowling Green Falcons, Thursday, Oct. 29. While the game could have postseason implications, it also gives the Green and White an opportunity to close out the season with a winning record at home for the fourth consecutive season. The Eagles have boasted a home winning percentage above .500 in nine of the last 10 seasons, compiling a 53-28-16 mark at home since the 2005 season.

SCOUTING REPORT: BOWLING GREEN: When Bowling Green travels to Scicluna Field, Thursday, Oct. 29, to close out the regular season, the Falcons will carry a six-game losing skid with them. After a sweep of week two in Mid-American Conference play in which the Falcons topped Akron (3-0) and Buffalo (2-1), Bowling Green has dropped six consecutive contests. Outscored 15-4 over that stretch, Bowling Green will look to get it's first road win since beating Eastern Illinois, 3-2, Sept. 11, in non-conference play. Despite a 6-11-1 overall record the Falcons remain in the hunt for the final spot in the MAC Tournament with a 2-8-0 mark in league play.
   Bowling Green has benefited from a balanced attack, with seven players credited with six or more points this season. Erica Hubert leads the way with a team-high seven goals while Mikaela Couch and Skylar Fleak have provided a balanced offensive game. Couch is second on the team in goals (5) and points (14) while tied for first on the team with four assists. Fleak follows her closely, with four goals and three assists, making her the third Falcon with double-digit points on the year.
   Defensively, the Falcons have been anchored by Lauren Cadel in goal. Starting in 17 matches this season, Cadel has 105 saves on 297 shots faced. With two shutouts to her credit, the defender boasts a 1.64 goals against average and .802 save percentage. Cadel has had double-digit saves in three matches this season, highlighted by a career-high 19 in a draw with Valparaiso, Sept. 13. Cadel was booked with a red card in the Falcons' loss to Northern Illinois, Friday, Oct. 23, leaving her on the bench in Sunday's match. Additionally, the Falcons rank atop the league standings in saves with 73.

ALL-TIME SERIES VS. BOWLING GREEN: The Eagles improved to 13-8-1 versus Bowling Green with a 3-0 victory last season. Seniors Chelsie Oddan (Calgary, Alberta-Central Memorial) and Megan Trapp (Plymouth, Mich.-Canton) tallied two of the Eagles three goals while junior Rachel Washburn (Hartland, Mich.-Hartland) and redshirt junior Ellie Tillar (Cincinnati, Ohio-Turpin) recorded assists. The shutout of the Falcons marked the Eagles seventh win in the last decade. With postseason hopes on the line, the Green and White will look to knock off the Falcons at Scicluna Field for the sixth consecutive time.

EAGLES SQUEEZE OUT A POINT OVER THE WEEKEND: A hard fought battle, Friday, Oct. 23, ended in a 1-0 setback for the Eagles at the hands of Western Michigan. The Green and White battled the Broncos to a scoreless tie at the half before a goal in the 56th minute gave WMU the upperhand and three crucial points in the Mid-American Conference standings. EMU responded, Sunday, Oct. 25, overcoming an early deficit to come away with a 1-1 draw against Northern Illinois. The tie with the Huskies provided the Ealges with one point, bringing their season total to eight in the MAC rankings.

PLAYOFF FATE HINGES ON DOMINOS FALLING IN FAVOR OF THE EAGLES: Had the Eagles pulled out a win over the weekend, the Green and White would control their own destiny in terms of the Mid-American Conference Tournament. With a loss to Western Michigan and a draw with Northern Illinois, the Eagles hold eight points in the conference standings. While no team has been eliminated from the postseason, the Eagles will need some help to earn a seed in the MAC tournament.
   The regular season finale holds a lot of weight for each team around the conference as squads jockey for seeding in the conference tournament. In the MAC East, Miami, Buffalo, or Kent State could come away with the division crown while in the MAC West, Ball State holds a two point lead on Western Michigan. With a win and a Ball State loss, Western Michigan would take the regular season MAC title and earn home field advantage throughout the tournament. Ball State would be named MAC Champions with a win over Miami.
   As for the Eagles, the Green and White will need to help their own cause first and foremost.With eight points, Eastern Michigan is tied with Northern Illinois while Akron and Ohio sit one point ahead of them with nine points. Bowling Green rounds out the five fighting for the final spot in the tournament with six points. Now, for the Eagles to claim the eighth seed in the tournament, they need help from a few teams around the league while a loss would automatically eliminate them from a postseason berth regardless of other results around the league.
   Scenario 1: EMU wins while Ohio, Akron, and Northern Illinois lose.
       Result: EMU claims the eighth seed in the tournament.
   Scenario 2: EMU draws with Bowling Green while Ohio, Akron, and Northern Illinois lose.
       Result: EMU claims the eighth seed in the tournament.
   Scenario 3: EMU wins while Ohio, Akron, and Northern Illinois draw.
       Result: EMU claims the eighth seed in the tournament.
   Scenario 4: EMU wins and Ohio, Akron, or Northern Illinois wins.
       Result: EMU's season ends against Bowling Green.
   Scenario 5: EMU draws, Ohio and Akron lose, and Northern Illinois draws.
       Result: EMU loses the tie-breaker to Northern Illinois, the Eagles season ends against Bowling Green.
   Scenario 6: EMU wins, Ohio and Akron draw, and Northern Illinois loses.
       Result: EMU claims the eighth seed in the tournament.

PASSING OF THE TORCH: While the 2015 season may not have played out as expected in goal for the Eagles up to this point, senior Megan McCabe (Arlington Heights, Ill.-Prospect) has set the Green and White up for success with freshman Kaylin Williams (Kansas City, Mo.-Winnetonka). Coming into the season, McCabe was the clear starter for the season but injuries have plagued the talented keeper, keeping her on the sideline for much of the season. With McCabe nursing various injuries, Williams has shared time in between the posts in her first collegiate season. With the mentoring and guidance of McCabe, Williams has turned in an impressive freshman season as the Kansas City, Mo. native leads the team in saves (58), save percentage (.806), goals against average (1.23), wins (4), and shutouts (2).

NASON'S SUCCESS IS EAGLES' SUCCESS: Redshirt freshman Kristin Nason (Brooklin, Ontario-Donald A. Wilson) leads the Eagles with seven goals on the season. Her latest goal came in the 45th minute against Northern Illinois, Sunday, Oct. 25, propelling the Eagles to a draw. With the goal, Nason moved into second on the Eagles all-time list for goals by a freshman. In addition to climbing the program ranks, Nason's goal secured a point in Mid-American Conference play for the Green and White while the draw moved the Eagles to 3-0-2 when the talented striker registers a goal.

SCORING FIRST A KEY TO SUCCESS FOR EAGLES: With a 3-1 win over Ohio, Friday, Oct. 16, the Eagles improved to 4-0-1 when scoring the first goal of the match. On the flip side, the Green and White are 1-9-0 when having to chase the opponents and play from behind. Eastern Michigan recorded its lone come-from-behind victory, Sunday, Sept. 20, over Green Bay at Scicluna Field.

FIRST HALF GOALS DRIVE EAGLES TO VICTORY: Scoring a total of 16 goals this season, the Eagles have scored 10 in the first half. The nine opening frame tallies have led the Green and White to a 4-1-2 mark in 2015. Meanwhile, Eastern Michigan is 1-8-0 in matches in which they do not register a goal in the first half

ONE-GOAL GAMES, AN ACHILLES HEEL FOR THE EAGLES: One-goal games have been plentiful on the Eagles' 2015 slate. Owning a 3-6 record in games decided by one goal, late goals by opponents have downed the Eagles. Most recently, a goal in the 57th minute against Western Michigan handed the Eagles a 1-nil setback.

HIGH-CALIBER PLAY OF WASHBURN ADDS TO EMU'S ARSENAL: Junior defender Rachel Washburn (Hartland, Mich.-Hartland) has made her presence known at center back for the Eagles. In her third season donning the Green and White, Washburn has set career-highs in assists (5) and minutes (1100). The only EMU player to spend every minute on the pitch this season, Washburn has consistently caused opposing strikers fits near goal. While her tenacious defensive effort has been a key to success for the Eagles, Washburn's ability to serve up assists offensively has been equally important. Assisting on five of EMU's 13 goals this season, Washburn's boot has paid dividends for the Eagles.

Eagles' Postseason Hopes Hinge on Thursday's Showdown with Bowling Green

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Players Mentioned

Kristin Hullibarger

Megan McCabe

Chelsie Oddan

Ellie Tillar

Megan Trapp

Rachel Washburn

Kaylin Williams

Eastern Michigan Athletics