EMU Soccer Hits Road as MAC Play Continues

SCORING FIRST A KEY TO SUCCESS FOR EAGLES: With a 3-2 win over Akron, Sunday, Oct. 4, the Eagles improved to 3-0-1 when scoring the first goal of the match. On the flip side, the Green and White are 1-7-0 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.

ONE-GOAL GAMES, AN ACHILLES HEEL FOR THE EAGLES: One-goal games have been plentiful on the Eagles' 2015 slate. Owning a 3-4 record in games decided by one goal, late goals by opponents have downed the Eagles. On Sunday, the Green and White made strides in turning the tide on the season, collecting a 3-2 win over Akron.

FIRST HALF GOALS DRIVE EAGLES TO VICTORY: Scoring a total of 13 goals this season, the Eagles have scored nine in the first half. The nine opening frame tallies have led the Green and White to a 3-1-1 mark in 2015. Meanwhile, Eastern Michigan is 1-6-0 in matches in which they do not register a goal in the first half.

SHAKING THINGS UP PAYS OFF FOR HALL'S SQUAD: Through the first 12 games on the season Head Coach Scott Hall has used nine different starting lineups. On Sunday, Hall's changes paid off to the tune of five points. Juniors Gabriella Mancini (Troy, Mich.-Troy) and Michelle Rollins (Hartland, Mich.-Hartland) netted their first goals of the season while freshman Peyton Davis (North Ridgeville, Ohio-Holy Name) recorded the first assist of her career. Of the nine points recorded in Sunday's 3-2 victory over the Zips, five came from the trio that returned to the starting lineup.

EAGLES CLOSE OUT HOME STAND WITH A 'W': Coming off back-to-back defeats at home, junior Gabriella Mancini (Troy, Mich.-Troy) knocked in a service by junior Rachel Washburn (Hartland, Mich.-Hartland) to give the Eagles an early lead over Akron, Sunday, Oct. 4. Mancini's goal broke a 235-minute drought for the Eagles and jump started a full fledge attack by the Green and White strikers. Junior Michelle Rollins (Hartland, Mich.-Hartland) netted the first goal of her career, courtesy of a pass from freshman Peyton Davis (North Ridgeville, Ohio-Holy Name) in the 22nd minute, and junior Ellie Tillar (Cincinnati, Ohio-Turpin) put the game away in the 61st minute on a header off a corner by junior Madison Hirsch (Troy, Mich.-Troy). A season-high six players made their way onto the score sheet in the Eagles, 3-2 win.

SCOUTING REPORT: CENTRAL MICHIGAN: The Chippewas host Eastern Michigan after a weekend split with two of the top teams in the Mid-American Conference. Central Michigan blanked Miami, 1-0, before falling to Ball State, 2-1, to close out week two of league play, and move them to 3-7-1 on the season and 2-2-0 in MAC play.
   The Chippewas have benefited from one of the most balanced attacks in the league, with seven players notching at least one goal. Kaelyn Korte and Samantha Maher have led the charge, netting two goals while adding an assist to tie atop the team with five points on the season. While Korte and Maher lead the team in points, Alexis Pelafas, Taylor Potts, and Lauren Sherry have also contributed two goals apiece.
   In net, Zoie Reed has earned a majority of the starts while Maddy Bunnell started for the Chippewas the last time out. Reed leads the team in goals against average (1.22), saves (42), and wins (3) while Bunnell holds the upper hand in save percentage (.815).

ALL-TIME SERIES VS. CENTRAL MICHIGAN: Eastern Michigan leads the storied history between the Eagles and in-state rival, Central Michigan, 12-4-2. EMU blanked the Chippewas in last season's match, 2-0, thanks to goals by Chelsie Oddan and Megan Trapp. All four players who recorded a point in the game return as junior Rachel Washburn and redshirt junior Ellie Tillar tallied the assists. The Eagles have won three consecutive matches against Central Michigan, outscoring the Chippewas by a 7-0 margin. With three consecutive shutouts over CMU, the Eagles have held the Chippewas scoreless for 227 minutes. CMU's last goal against the Eagles came in the 33rd minute of their matchup in the 2011 season. The goal by Claire Horton served as the game-winner, as CMU handed the Green and White a 1-nil defeat.

SCOUTING REPORT: TOLEDO: Sitting at 4-7-0 on the season, the Rockets own a 0-3-0 mark in league play heading into the third weekend of conference games. Toledo will host Bowling Green, Friday, Oct. 9, before welcoming the Eagles to town, Sunday, Oct. 11.
   The Rockets have had a tough go this season, squaring off against a number of the top teams in the nation before opening league play. Toledo has mustered just nine goals in 11 games while opponents have totaled 22, 15 of which have come in the second half. Kiersten Johnson and Isa Echeverri have accounted for five of Toledo's nine goals, adding one and three assists respectively. A dynamic player on attack Echeverri has struggled with composure this season, tallying a conference-high four yellow cards.
   Sam Tiongson has taken control between the posts for the Rockets, totaling 44 saves and a .688 save percentage. Playing in 990 minutes, Tiongson has posted two shutouts this season.

ALL-TIME SERIES VS. TOLEDO: The Eagles hold a 12-11-1 mark against Toledo all-time. Eastern Michigan has won three of the last four match ups while playing to a 1-1 draw in the fourth. Unfortunately for the Eagles, the stalemate with the Rockets came in the opening round of the 2012 Mid-American Conference Tournament and Toledo advanced on penalty kicks. In last season's clash, EMU grinded out a 1-nil victory on a goal by Bianca Rossi in the 87th minute. Squaring off against the Rockets on Sunday, Oct. 11, Eastern Michigan will look to notch its third straight win over Toledo.

BACK ON THE ROAD: After three games on their home pitch, the Eagles will hit the road for a grueling four-game road trip in Mid-American Conference play. EMU kicks off the weekend, Friday, Oct. 9, in Mount Pleasant, Mich. with a bout against Central Michigan. The Eagles close out the weekend, Sunday, Oct. 11 against Toledo at Scott Park.

IT'S A POINTS RACE IN THE MAC: With another weekend in the books around the league, Ball State is the lone unbeaten team in the Mid-American Conference and sit atop the MAC West Division. Western Michigan comes into the week at 3-1-0, with Central Michigan sitting at 2-2-0. Northern Illinois is tied with the Eagles at 1-3-0 while Toledo is on the bottom at 0-4-0 to round out the West.
   In the East, Kent State and Miami boast 3-1-0 marks while Bowling Green, Buffalo, and Ohio are at level pegging (2-2-0). Akron fell to the bottom of the division with the 3-2 loss to the Eagles this past weekend.

MORE WORK TO DO: Wins in Mid-American Conference play are always a grind, as was the case with the Eagles' 3-2 win over Akron. Collecting three crucial points with the win, the Eagles moved ahead of Toledo in the conference standings. With hopes of making it back to the MAC Tournament for the fourth consecutive season, the Eagles currently sit on the outside looking in making every match that much more important down the stretch.

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.

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Players Mentioned

Peyton Davis

Madison Hirsch

Gabriella Mancini

Chelsie Oddan

Michelle Rollins

Bianca Rossi

Ellie Tillar

Megan Trapp

Rachel Washburn

Eastern Michigan Athletics