Eastern Michigan Athletics
Photo by: Jim Naprstek
Soccer Slotted Fourth in West in MAC Preseason Poll
8/14/2017 1:34:00 PM | Soccer
The Eagles open the season at home this Friday, Aug. 18, against Illinois State
MAC Release
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — The Eastern Michigan University soccer team was selected to finish fourth in the Mid-American Conference West Division in the conference's coaches poll, the league office announced Monday, Aug. 14.
Ball State, receiving seven first-place votes, was predicted to win the West Division for the third straight season, while Central Michigan and Western Michigan rounded out the top three, respectively. In the East Division, reigning MAC Tournament Champion Kent State tallied 10 first-place votes and is the preseason favorite. Buffalo came in second, reeling in two first-place votes, while Miami is ranked third.
As for the tournament champion, the Eagles were one of six squads to earn a vote. Ball State is preseason favorite after garnering four votes, while Central Michigan notched three and Kent State registered two. Finally, Eastern, Northern Illinois, and Buffalo had one vote apiece.
Head Coach Scott Hall, the longest tenured women's soccer coach in the MAC, enters his 19th season at the helm with a young roster full of talent. The Green and White return 2016 MAC Freshman of the Year Sabrina McNeill (Whitby, Ontario-Henry Street) and Second Team All-MAC goalkeeper Kaylin Williams (Kansas City, Mo.-Winnetonka), while redshirt junior Kristin Nason (Brooklin, Ontario-Donald A. Wilson) is healthy and ready to go following a season ending injury in last year's opener.
With the season opener on tap this weekend, we take a position-by-position look at EMU's 2017 roster. Overall, the Eagles return a combined total of 15,232 career minutes, the fewest in the conference, spread amongst 13 veterans. Meanwhile, EMU will add 10 freshman to the mix, representing the fifth-largest freshmen class in the nation.
Forwards
Up top, the Green and White are stacked with speed and experience, making forward Eastern's deepest position. McNeill, Eastern's top returning goal scorer, netted four goals, including one game-winner, while adding three assists for a total of 11 points in her first collegiate season. An All-MAC Freshman Team selection in 2015, Nason led the Eagles with seven goals and 14 points in her redshirt freshman campaign. Junior Peyton Davis (North Ridgeville, Ohio-Holy Name) is also back after registering two goals a season ago. Junior Mia Colavito (Mississauga, Ontario-Loyola Catholic) will break into the mix after providing quality minutes in the midfield last season. Meanwhile, freshmen Parys Kerr (Whitby, Ontario-Pickering) and Marla Cobetto (Trenton, Mich. -Trenton) also look to garner minutes at forward.
Midfield
In the midfield the Eagles look to fill the shoes of All-MAC First Team honoree Ellie Tillar, as well as Madison Hirsch and Gabriella Mancini with a mix of young veterans and freshmen. Tillar led the Eagles in points (13), goals (5), and game-winners (2) in her final go-around earning her conference honors as well as a spot on TopDrawerSoccer.com's MAC Top-20. Despite the loss of some key contributors, Hall's squad has added freshmen playmakers Alia Frederick (Linden, Mich.-Linden), Chloe Chatzis (Mabomb, Mich.-Henry Ford II), Madeline Olson (Libertyville, Ill.-Libertyville), and Kennady Kuhlman (Howell, Mich.-Hartland). In addition to four newcomers, the Eagles have seniors Chanel Vani (Brampton, Ontario-Cardinal Leger) and Alex Wilbanks (Ypsilanti, Mich.-Lincoln), sophomore Nicole Remedios (Ajax, Ontario-Archbishop Dennis O'Connor), and junior Mackenzie Etienne (Midland, Mich.-Midland Dow) that bring experience to the position.
Vani steps up into the midfield on the heels of a breakout season at outside back on EMU's defense. Vani, coming off a year in which she tallied a career-high three assists, provides the Eagles with speed and has developed into a larger offensive threat over the offseason. Wilbanks registered a goal and an assist last season, and is poised for a breakout year as a senior. Playing every minute of every match as a true freshman, Remedios returns as one of EMU's most experienced players. Solid on both sides of the ball, Remedios scored a goal last season, while seeing time in the midfield, as well as on defense. Rounding out the returners is Etienne, who is back in the mix after being sidelined all of the 2016 season.
Defense
Like the midfield, Eastern Michigan has a lot of minutes to replace defensively with the losses of Rachel Washburn, Jennifer Bentley, and Stef Barcelos and Vani's move into the midfield. Junior Mikayla Cupp (Ostego, Mich.-Ostego) and sophomore Maggie McCullough (London, Ontario-Oakrdige Secondary) are shifting back from their previous roles in the midfield, while sophomore Aubrey Martin (Toronto, Ontario-Father John Redmond) and freshmen Lauren Cimino (Sterling Heights, Mich.-Henry Ford II), Lindsey Shira (New Baltimore, Mich.-Anchor Bay), and Tessa Osborne (Mentor, Ohio-Lake Catholic) will battle for time. Cupp is fully healthy after injuries limited her to just eight games last season, while McCullough saw minutes in the midfield as a freshman ultimately working her way into the starting lineup.
Goalkeeping
In between the posts, Williams is back for her second tour as the primary starter. Last year, Williams racked up 81 saves, five shutouts, and six wins, while starting all 20 games for the Eagles. A captain on this year's squad, Williams leads the three-player GK corp, the first time EMU has had more than two keepers on the roster since 2013. Sophomore Mabel Dunn (Oakville, Ontario-White Oaks Secondary) returns with a year of work with goalkeeping coach Dan Diac under her belt, while freshman Chelsea Abbotts (Ottawa, Ontario-Mother Teresa) is new to the mix.
The Green and White kickoff the season this weekend, Aug. 18-20. EMU lifts the lid on the year with a 4 p.m. clash with the Redbirds of Illinois State University, Aug. 18, at Scicluna Field, before hitting the road for a Sunday afternoon match, Aug. 20, against University of Illinois-Chicago at Flames Field.
MAC Coaches Poll (First-place votes)
East Division
1. Kent State (10)
2. Buffalo (2)
3. Miami
4. Ohio
5. Akron
6. Bowling Green
West Division
1. Ball State (7)
2. Central Michigan (3)
3. Western Michigan (1)
4. Eastern Michigan
5. Northern Illinois (1)
6. Toledo
Tournament Champion: Ball State (4), Central Michigan (3), Kent State (2), Eastern Michigan (1), Northern Illinois (1), Buffalo (1)
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — The Eastern Michigan University soccer team was selected to finish fourth in the Mid-American Conference West Division in the conference's coaches poll, the league office announced Monday, Aug. 14.
Ball State, receiving seven first-place votes, was predicted to win the West Division for the third straight season, while Central Michigan and Western Michigan rounded out the top three, respectively. In the East Division, reigning MAC Tournament Champion Kent State tallied 10 first-place votes and is the preseason favorite. Buffalo came in second, reeling in two first-place votes, while Miami is ranked third.
As for the tournament champion, the Eagles were one of six squads to earn a vote. Ball State is preseason favorite after garnering four votes, while Central Michigan notched three and Kent State registered two. Finally, Eastern, Northern Illinois, and Buffalo had one vote apiece.
Head Coach Scott Hall, the longest tenured women's soccer coach in the MAC, enters his 19th season at the helm with a young roster full of talent. The Green and White return 2016 MAC Freshman of the Year Sabrina McNeill (Whitby, Ontario-Henry Street) and Second Team All-MAC goalkeeper Kaylin Williams (Kansas City, Mo.-Winnetonka), while redshirt junior Kristin Nason (Brooklin, Ontario-Donald A. Wilson) is healthy and ready to go following a season ending injury in last year's opener.
With the season opener on tap this weekend, we take a position-by-position look at EMU's 2017 roster. Overall, the Eagles return a combined total of 15,232 career minutes, the fewest in the conference, spread amongst 13 veterans. Meanwhile, EMU will add 10 freshman to the mix, representing the fifth-largest freshmen class in the nation.
Forwards
Up top, the Green and White are stacked with speed and experience, making forward Eastern's deepest position. McNeill, Eastern's top returning goal scorer, netted four goals, including one game-winner, while adding three assists for a total of 11 points in her first collegiate season. An All-MAC Freshman Team selection in 2015, Nason led the Eagles with seven goals and 14 points in her redshirt freshman campaign. Junior Peyton Davis (North Ridgeville, Ohio-Holy Name) is also back after registering two goals a season ago. Junior Mia Colavito (Mississauga, Ontario-Loyola Catholic) will break into the mix after providing quality minutes in the midfield last season. Meanwhile, freshmen Parys Kerr (Whitby, Ontario-Pickering) and Marla Cobetto (Trenton, Mich. -Trenton) also look to garner minutes at forward.
Midfield
In the midfield the Eagles look to fill the shoes of All-MAC First Team honoree Ellie Tillar, as well as Madison Hirsch and Gabriella Mancini with a mix of young veterans and freshmen. Tillar led the Eagles in points (13), goals (5), and game-winners (2) in her final go-around earning her conference honors as well as a spot on TopDrawerSoccer.com's MAC Top-20. Despite the loss of some key contributors, Hall's squad has added freshmen playmakers Alia Frederick (Linden, Mich.-Linden), Chloe Chatzis (Mabomb, Mich.-Henry Ford II), Madeline Olson (Libertyville, Ill.-Libertyville), and Kennady Kuhlman (Howell, Mich.-Hartland). In addition to four newcomers, the Eagles have seniors Chanel Vani (Brampton, Ontario-Cardinal Leger) and Alex Wilbanks (Ypsilanti, Mich.-Lincoln), sophomore Nicole Remedios (Ajax, Ontario-Archbishop Dennis O'Connor), and junior Mackenzie Etienne (Midland, Mich.-Midland Dow) that bring experience to the position.
Vani steps up into the midfield on the heels of a breakout season at outside back on EMU's defense. Vani, coming off a year in which she tallied a career-high three assists, provides the Eagles with speed and has developed into a larger offensive threat over the offseason. Wilbanks registered a goal and an assist last season, and is poised for a breakout year as a senior. Playing every minute of every match as a true freshman, Remedios returns as one of EMU's most experienced players. Solid on both sides of the ball, Remedios scored a goal last season, while seeing time in the midfield, as well as on defense. Rounding out the returners is Etienne, who is back in the mix after being sidelined all of the 2016 season.
Defense
Like the midfield, Eastern Michigan has a lot of minutes to replace defensively with the losses of Rachel Washburn, Jennifer Bentley, and Stef Barcelos and Vani's move into the midfield. Junior Mikayla Cupp (Ostego, Mich.-Ostego) and sophomore Maggie McCullough (London, Ontario-Oakrdige Secondary) are shifting back from their previous roles in the midfield, while sophomore Aubrey Martin (Toronto, Ontario-Father John Redmond) and freshmen Lauren Cimino (Sterling Heights, Mich.-Henry Ford II), Lindsey Shira (New Baltimore, Mich.-Anchor Bay), and Tessa Osborne (Mentor, Ohio-Lake Catholic) will battle for time. Cupp is fully healthy after injuries limited her to just eight games last season, while McCullough saw minutes in the midfield as a freshman ultimately working her way into the starting lineup.
Goalkeeping
In between the posts, Williams is back for her second tour as the primary starter. Last year, Williams racked up 81 saves, five shutouts, and six wins, while starting all 20 games for the Eagles. A captain on this year's squad, Williams leads the three-player GK corp, the first time EMU has had more than two keepers on the roster since 2013. Sophomore Mabel Dunn (Oakville, Ontario-White Oaks Secondary) returns with a year of work with goalkeeping coach Dan Diac under her belt, while freshman Chelsea Abbotts (Ottawa, Ontario-Mother Teresa) is new to the mix.
The Green and White kickoff the season this weekend, Aug. 18-20. EMU lifts the lid on the year with a 4 p.m. clash with the Redbirds of Illinois State University, Aug. 18, at Scicluna Field, before hitting the road for a Sunday afternoon match, Aug. 20, against University of Illinois-Chicago at Flames Field.
MAC Coaches Poll (First-place votes)
East Division
1. Kent State (10)
2. Buffalo (2)
3. Miami
4. Ohio
5. Akron
6. Bowling Green
West Division
1. Ball State (7)
2. Central Michigan (3)
3. Western Michigan (1)
4. Eastern Michigan
5. Northern Illinois (1)
6. Toledo
Tournament Champion: Ball State (4), Central Michigan (3), Kent State (2), Eastern Michigan (1), Northern Illinois (1), Buffalo (1)
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/ SoccerThank You from EMU Soccer!
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