Eagles Wrap Up Road Trip Against Butler

Soccer at Butler
Date	Friday, Sept. 1 - 7 p.m.
Location	Indianapolis, Ind. - Sellick Bowl
Game Notes	EMU Notes \| BU Notes
Live Stats	vs. Butler
Twitter	@EMUSoccer \| @EMUAthletics

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (EMUEagles.com) - The Eastern Michigan University women's soccer team concludes its four-game road trip Friday, Sept. 1, against Butler University at the Bud and Jackie Sellick Bowl at 7 p.m.
Fans can follow the game via live stats through the links found on the soccer schedule page of EMUEagles.com. Additionally, the action on the pitch will be live tweeted from the team's account, @EMUSoccer.

EAGLES VERSUS BULLDOGS: Eastern Michigan and Butler have squared off on the pitch six times over the past 20 years, with the Bulldogs lead the series by a 2-1-3 tally. The Green and White lifted the 2016 season against Butler at Scicluna Field. After playing through 110 minutes of action, the match ended in a 0-0 draw. Between the posts, Kaylin Williams, led EMU with five saves. Eastern's last win against Butler came back in 2012 when the Eagles blanked the Bulldogs, 1-nil. Sarah Deakin scored the game-winner, while Jenna O'Dell posted a 10-save effort.

STOP!: In the first game of the FAU adidas Owl Challenge, Aug. 25, junior Kaylin Williams, made a monumental save on a Florida Atlantic penalty kick in the 27th minute. FAU fired off the shot but Williams made the stop, marking the first time an EMU keeper has made a penalty kick stop in regulation since Maggie Maville did so against Miami, Sept. 26, 2008. FAU's PK was the first penalty kick the Kansas City, Mo. native has faced since her freshman year against Akron, Oct. 4, 2015. Additionally, Williams' save is believed to be just the second time in program history that an Eagle GK has made a stop on a PK in regulation since 1995.

THE LONE GOAL: Junior Mackenzie Etienne recorded the first goal of her career and the only goal of the weekend against Florida Gulf Coast, Aug. 27. The Eagles, down 1-nil, tie up the game in the 33rd minute with Etienne's goal. Sophomore Sabrina McNeill took the corner kick for EMU and sent the service to the far post where Etienne headed the ball to the upper right corner.

DUNN'S DEBUT: Sophomore Mabel Dunn made her EMU goalkeeping debut against Florida Gulf Coast, Aug. 27. Dunn saw almost 14 minutes of action and registered her first career save after facing four FGCU shots.

McNEILL'S MAGIC: Reigning MAC Freshman of the Year Sabrina McNeill continues to shine as the season progresses on. Leading the team in goals (2), assists (2), and points (6), McNeill has had her foot involved in all four of the Eagles' goals. She tallied a goal in a double-overtime draw versus Illinois State, Aug. 18, before scoring a goal and assisting on the game-winner as Eastern topped Illinois-Chicago, 2-1, Aug. 20. Against Florida Gulf Coast, McNeill assisted Eastern's one goal of the weekend.

TOURNAMENT STANDOUTS: At the conclusion of the FAU adidas Owl Challenge, redshirt junior Kristin Nason and sophomore Sabrina McNeill were named to the All-Tournament team. McNeill had three shots over the course of the weekend and notched an assist. Meanwhile, Nason got her foot on the ball and fired off four shots, as the duo put consistent pressure on the opposition.

NOT ONE, BUT TWO: Against Florida Atlantic, junior Kaylin Williams, faced two penalty kicks and saved the first attempt. The last time an Eagle opponent had two PK opportunities in a match was when Eastern Michigan took on Michigan State, Sept. 15, 2013. The two penalty shots allowed in EMU's game against FAU were also as many as the Green and White have allowed in the 2015 and 2016 seasons combined.

EYEING 20: Sophomore Sabrina McNeill has totaled 17 points over the first 24 games of her EMU career. Having already notched six goals and five assists, three more points would give McNeill 20 for her career. The Whitby, Ontario native is on the verge of becoming the 26th player in program history to join the 20-point club, and the first since Ellie Tillar did so in 2016.

FRESHMEN TAKEOVER: With one of the largest freshman classes in the country, it is no surprise that several earned playing time under the Florida sun. Freshmen Alia Frederick and Madeline Olson started both matches, while a total of eight freshmen made an appearance in the pair of games.

...NEXT!: Head Coach Scott Hall used every weapon at his disposal at the FAU adidas Owl Challenge, Aug. 25-27. In the opening match against host, Florida Atlantic, 20 players earned minutes, while all 21 players on the travel squad garnered time on the pitch against Florida Gulf Coast.

COMING HOME: Following this weekend's trip to Indianapolis to face Butler, the Green and White return to Scicluna Field to go head-to-head with Youngstown State, Sept. 9. Kickoff between the Eagles and the Penguins is set for 5 p.m. and marks the beginning of a three-game homestay for EMU.

OPPORTUNISTIC AGGRESSORS: EMU's aggressive play has been a tell-tale sign of success for the Eagles through the first four games of the season. The Green and White have committed 37 fouls through four games, the fourth-most in the league. Eastern holds a 1-0-1 record when tallying more fouls than the opposition, while EMU is winless, 0-2-0, when committing less fouls than its opponents.

OFFSIDES OFFENDERS: Eastern Michigan has been whistled offsides 15 times through the first four games of the season, the most of any team in the Mid-American Conference. In fact, the Eagles were called offsides nine times in their season opener against Illinois State, Aug. 18. EMU's nine miscues against ISU alone would rank tied for fourth in the league.

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Players Mentioned

Mabel Dunn

Mackenzie Etienne

Alia Frederick

Kristin Hullibarger

Sabrina McNeill

Madeline Olson

Ellie Tillar

Kaylin Williams

Eastern Michigan Athletics