Soccer's Postseason Hopes Hinge on Regular Season Finale Versus CMU

Soccer vs. Central Michigan
Date	Thursday, Oct. 25 - 3 p.m.
Venue	Ypsilanti, Mich. - Scicluna Field
Preview Info	EMU Notes
Live Stats	Live Stats
Twitter	@EMU Soccer \| @EMUAthletics

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – With postseason hopes hanging in the balance, the Eastern Michigan University soccer team closes out the regular season against in-state foe Central Michigan University Thursday, Oct. 25. The crucial Mid-American Conference clash is scheduled for 3 p.m. at Scicluna Field.
   Both teams are coming off of 1-1-0 weekends and both EMU and CMU bested Miami University and fell to Ball State University, Oct. 18-21. The outcome of the match has significant postseason implications as seeds six through 10 are currently separated by one game.
Links for live stats can be found on the soccer schedule page of EMUEagles.com. Additionally, the action will be live tweeted from the team's account, @EMUSoccer.

FRANTZ-TASTIC: Less than a week after scoring the first goal of her career, freshman Kylie Frantz helped a pair of teammates find the back of the net. Frantz was credited with assists on Mia Colavito's goal as well as Kristin Nason's. Her two helpers were not only a career-best, but she also became the first Eagle to tally two assists in a game since Marisa Kozikowski did so against Ohio, Nov. 3, 2013

JUST CALL HER PAUL JACKSON, BECAUSE SHE'S DROPPING DIMES: Sophomore Lindsey Shira has put together a strong season on both ends of the pitch for the Eagles. Defensively, Shira has helped EMU to six shutouts, while she has also tallied six helpers on the offensive end. Shira's six assists rank tied for the 13th-most in EMU single season laurels. Additionally, her career-best six assists are the most by an Eagle since 2013.

PLAYOFF PICTURE: If the season ended today, Eastern would be on the outside looking in when it comes to the MAC Tournament. As of now EMU would hold the No. 10 slot, but are far from out of it. The Eagles need a win and some results to fall in their favor around the league to return to the postseason for the first time since 2016.

CLOSING IT OUT AGAINST THE CHIPS: Eastern Michigan will close out the regular season against Central Michigan for the second straight season when the two squads meet Thursday, Oct. 25.
   In the all-time series, which dates back to 1998, EMU leads CMU, 12-6-3. Central has caught up in the all-time tally as of late, going 2-0-1 against Eastern since 2015. The Green and White is looking for its first win over the Chippewas since the 2014 campaign when EMU blanked CMU, 2-nil, at Scicluna Field, Oct. 12.

NO YOU MAY NOT: EMU manufactured eight corners while holding Ball State to none Sunday, Oct. 21. It was the first time the Cardinals have not produced a corner since Nov. 7, 2014, when BSU fell 2-1 in overtime in the MAC Tournament Semifinals to Buffalo.

HOME COOKING: Eastern Michigan has compiled a 114-59-28 overall record, good for a .640 win percentage, at Scicluna Field. This season, EMU is 5-4 on its home pitch.

MAKIN' MOVES: Redshirt junior Kristin Nason and redshirt sophomore Sabrina McNeill continued to climb EMU's career points ladder with assists at Western Michigan, Oct. 14. Nason sits in 15th-place with 38 points, while McNeill currently ranks 19th in EMU history with 34 points and trails Tania Orlow by two points.

LOOKIN' FOR THE "PERFECT 10": With a win against Central Michigan, Eastern would record its first 10-win season since 2014 and its ninth overall.

NOTHING BEATS CLEAN SHEETS: With a 3-0 win over Miami Thursday, Oct. 18, Eastern posted its sixth shutout of the season. EMU's six clean sheets are the most since the Green and White recorded eight during the 2014 campaign.

SLIM MARGINS: The Eagles have suffered some heartbreaking setbacks since conference play began last month, leaving EMU with a 4-6-0 league record with three matches to go. Eastern Michigan has lost its five league games by a combined five goals as each match has been of the one-goal variety. Only one other league opponent has had such slim margins, as Akron's five losses have also come by one goal each.

UP IT TO NINE: EMU's nine wins are the most for the Eagles since winning 11 in 2014. Eastern won five games in 2015, six in 2016, and seven in 2017, after winning the MAC West Division in 2014.

SHARING THE SPOTLIGHT: Redshirt sophomore Sabrina McNeill and redshirt junior Kristin Nason have caused opposing defenses plenty of trouble over the course of the season, as the duo has combined for 13 goals, nine assists, and 35 points. In fact, McNeill and Nason are the first EMU teammates to rack up 15-or-more points each since 2014. That year, Angela Vultaggio and Bianca Rossi notched 19 and 15 points, respectively.

3...2...1...#MACTION: Eastern Michigan is in its 21st season competing as a member of the Mid-American Conference. The Eagles have compiled a 115-76-25 record in league play and are looking to claim their fourth MAC title, and first since 2013. Eastern was the 1999, 2003, and 2013 MAC Regular Season Champion.

BRAGGING RIGHTS: The Eagles are 42-56-18 against teams hailing from the state of Michigan all-time. EMU's most common opponent is Western Michigan, having squared off against the Broncos 28 times since 1995. Eastern and Western are even in the series, 12-12-4, while EMU is also tied, 9-9-4, against Detroit Mercy all-time. The Green and White have been most successful against Central Michigan, posting a 12-6-3 mark against the Chippewas. The Eagles trail in series with Michigan (0-8-2), Michigan State (1-12-3), and Oakland (3-9-1).
   This season, Eastern Michigan is 2-0 against in-state foes, as EMU defeated Detroit Mercy (Aug. 31; 2-1) and Oakland (Sept. 2; 1-0).

ON THE HORIZON: Should Eastern Michigan clinch a playoff spot, the Eagles will return to the pitch Sunday, Oct. 29, for the first round of the MAC Tournament.

Soccer's Postseason Hopes Hinge on Regular Season Finale Versus CMU

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Players Mentioned

Mia Colavito

Kylie Frantz

Marisa Kozikowski

Sabrina McNeill

Bianca Rossi

Lindsey Shira

Angela Vultaggio

Eastern Michigan Athletics