Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
3-4-1
Utah State
4-2-1
Eastern Michigan Falls Short Versus Utah State
9/15/2017 6:58:00 PM | Soccer
Madeline Olson notched the first goal of her career
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) - The Eastern Michigan University women's soccer team could not keep up with the pace of Utah State, Friday, Sept. 15, at Scicluna Field. EMU's (3-4-1) defense kept the game scoreless into the half, but Utah State broke through in the final 45 minutes to hand Eastern a 2-1 defeat. The setback marked the Eagles' first home loss of the season.
Eastern Michigan continued to garner several corner kicks, earning eight in the first half alone, compared to Utah State's three. The Green and White attempted to match the Aggies offense but were outshot 17-11. Redshirt junior Kristin Nason (Brooklin, Ontario-Donald A. Wilson) led EMU with four shots, while freshman Madeline Olson (Libertyville, Ill.-Libertyville) followed close behind with three, including the first goal of her career in the 90th minute.
Defensively, junior goalkeeper Kaylin Williams (Kansas City, Mo.-Winnetonka) tied her season-high seven saves.
Utah State controlled the possession the first 20 minutes of the game, while Eastern, who garnered eight corners in the first half, were unable to capitalize on its offensive opportunities. The Aggies defense broke up EMU's scoring chances, holding the Green and White to four shots off the eight corner kicks. Conversely, Williams made four stops on 10 first half shots by Utah State to keep the game scoreless at the break.
Utah State snapped the scoreless tie at the 65-minute mark when Ashley Cardozo shot the ball 20 yards out and delivered it just inside the far post, just out of William's reach.
Pressing for a goal, the Eastern was caught on a counter. After an EMU foul gave USU a free kick on the edge of the 18, the Aggies capitalized, scoring on the free kick to double their lead.
Despite the 2-nil deficit, Eastern Michigan continued to fight, finally breaking through with time winding down in the 90th minute. Finding the ball at her feet, Olson eluded a defender and fired a shot past Utah State's diving keeper. Olson's tally, the first of her career, cut the Aggies' lead to one, but was not enough to overcome the deficit as the Eagles fell, 2-1.
The Eagles close out non-conference play against the University of Detroit Mercy, Sunday, Sept. 17. The match is scheduled for 5 p.m. in the Motor City.
Team Stats
CARDOZO, Ashley (4)
shot 20 yards out, upper 90 far post
64:35
CARDOZO, Ashley (5)
Shot from free kick, curved into top lef
80:33
OLSON,MADELINE (1)
Shot from outside the box, top left corn
89:43
