Eastern Michigan Athletics

Friday, September 4
Normal, Ill.
7 p.m.

Eastern Michigan University

1-3-1

2
at
2

Illinois State

1-3-1

1
2
OT 5
OT 6
F
Eastern Michigan
2
0
0
0
2
Illinois State
2
0
0
0
2
15WSOC-Huddle
Photo by: Steve King/KingStudios

Total Team Effort Leads EMU Soccer to Draw with Illinois State

9/5/2015 1:07:00 AM | Soccer

Kristin Nason scored two goals and Kaylin Williams recorded eight saves in the match

NORMAL, Ill. (EMUEagles.com) – Returning to the pitch under the lights, the Eastern Michigan University women's soccer team closed out their season-opening five-game road trip against Illinois State University, Friday, Sept. 4, at Adelaide Street Field. After a two hour rain delay and 110 minutes of play, the Eagles and Redbirds drew even at two. Redshirt freshman Kristin Nason (Brooklin, Ontario-Donald A. Wilson) tallied two goals for EMU, while freshman goalkeeper Kaylin Williams (Kansas City, Mo.-Winnetonka) recorded a career-high eight saves.

With a majority of the opening 20 minutes spent in the midfield, it was evident the Redbirds and Eagles stacked up evenly early on. While the Green and White strikers worked to find their opportunities, the EMU defense held strong on the backline. Rallying around the strong play of the defense, the Eagles first goal came courtesy of a counter attack. Redshirt junior Jennifer Bentley (London, Ontario-London) worked the ball up field, connecting with Nason near goal. Using her speed, Nason collected Bentley's pass and buried her first goal of the season to give EMU the 1-0 lead in the 23rd minute.

More than 10 minutes after Illinois State leveled the score at one, Nason came up on the end of another cross by the Eagles. Junior Rachel Washburn (Hartland, Mich.-Hartland) played a ball into the box to Nason. Breaking through the Redbirds' backline, Nason saw an opening and ripped a shot past the reach of ISU's keeper to put the Eagles in front 2-1.

After ISU scored the equalizer in the 43rd minute, the teams headed to halftime even at two.

With four goals scored in the first half, the second half featured a defensive clinic as the teams combined for 18 shots without a goal. Benefiting from key defensive stops by a veteran cohort and highlight worthy saves by Williams, the Eagles withstood 11 shots by the Redbirds to force overtime.

In overtime the Green and White controlled possession, leading to a 2-0 edge in shots. EMU's first opportunity came in the 94th minute. Redshirt senior Chelsie Oddan (Calgary, Alberta-Central Memorial) blasted a shot from the top of the box. Sending a shot up and over a defender, a punch save by the ISU keeper kept Oddan from her first goal of the season and left the score tied at two.

Moments later, senior Megan Trapp (Plymouth, Mich.-Canton) was shoved to the grass, giving EMU a free kick 15 yards outside the box. Stepping to the ball, Washburn cleared the five-man wall but her shot was corralled by the ISU keeper on the goal line.

Washburn's free kick served as the last scoring chance for either team, forcing a second overtime.

Like the first extra period, the Eagles maintained possession for most of the final 10 minutes. Despite three shots and a couple set piece plays, ISU's defensive play kept EMU from scoring, ending the match in a 2-2 draw. With the draw, the Eagles close out their five-game road trip with a 1-3-1 record.

The Green and White take Scicluna Field for the first time this season, Sunday, Sept. 6, when they play host to University of Illinois Chicago. In last year's meeting, the Eagles escaped the Windy City with a 4-2 victory over the Flames. EMU's home opener is set to start at 1 p.m.
 

Team Stats

EMU
ILS
Goals
2
2
Shots
10
18
Shots on Goal
8
10
Saves
8
6
Corners
6
3
Fouls
19
18
Scoring Plays
Logo

NASON, KRISTIN

Assisted By: BENTLEY, JENNIFER

GOAL by EMU NASON, KRISTIN (FIRST GOAL), Assist by BENTLEY, JENNIFER.

22:31

Logo

Richards, Brianne (2)

Assisted By: Dickman, Emily

GOAL by ILS Richards, Brianne, Assist by Dickman, Emily, goal number 2 for season.

24:45

Logo

NASON, KRISTIN

Assisted By: WASHBURN, RACHEL

GOAL by EMU NASON, KRISTIN, Assist by WASHBURN, RACHEL.

36:09

Logo

Czerwinski, Kiley (1)

Assisted By: Farkos, Ali

GOAL by ILS Czerwinski, Kiley, Assist by Farkos, Ali, goal number 1 for season.

42:27

Game Leaders

Shots
2
SOG
2
Goals
2
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
0
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
3
SOG
2
Goals
0
Assists
0

Players Mentioned

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