Soccer Begins Three-Game Homestand Against Detroit Mercy, Dayton

Soccer vs. Detroit Mercy \| vs. Dayton
Date	Friday, Aug. 24 - 5 p.m. \| Sunday, Aug. 26 - 1 p.m.
Venue	Ypsilanti, Mich. - Scicluna Field
Preview Info	EMU Notes
Live Stats	Live Stats
Twitter	@EMU Soccer \| @EMUAthletics

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) - The Eastern Michigan University soccer team begins a three-game homestand this weekend Friday-Sunday, Aug. 24-26. EMU (0-2-0) hosts in-state foe University of Detroit Mercy for its Scicluna Field opener Friday, Aug. 24, at 5 p.m. Eastern then hosts the University of Dayton Sunday, Aug. 26, at 1 p.m.
   Detroit Mercy (0-1-0) travels to Ypsilanti looking for its first win of the year following a 3-0 setback at the hands of Western Michigan, Aug. 17. Meanwhile, Dayton (2-0-0) tangles with Louisville Thurday, Aug. 23, before making the trek to the Mitten.
   Links for live stats can be 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.

SERIES HISTORY: The Eagles are 9-9-4 all-time against this weekend's competition. A consistent part of EMU's schedule for the last two decades, Detroit holds a slight, 9-8-4, edge in the two team's 21 meetings. Meanwhile, the Eagles are 1-0-0 against the Flyers, with the lone meeting coming more than 20 years ago.
   Given the proximity, it is no surprise that UDM is one of EMU's most common opponents, as the two squads have squared off in four of the past five seasons. Detroit has won three straight meetings, including a 3-0 shutout last year. The Eagles last win against the Titans came in their 2013 season opener. Detroit struck first with a goal in the seventh minute, but EMU rallied back with goals from Angela Vultaggio, Cara Cutaia, and Martha Stevens on the way to a 3-1 win.
   Eastern outlasted Dayton, 2-1, in their only previous match back on Oct. 26, 1996. The Eagles' win over the Flyers in their season finale gave EMU its 10th win of the year and began a streak of six straight years with 10-or-more wins, the longest such streak in program history.

KAYLIN'S CLIMB: Senior netminder Kaylin Williams has proven to be one of the top keepers to come through Ypsilanti. Learning from former EMU standout Megan McCabe as a freshman and continuing to benefit from the tutelage of Dan Diac, Williams has created quite a legacy. With 10 saves to her credit this season, the Kansas City, Mo. native has racked up 255 for her career. She currently ranks fifth in EMU laurels, and trails Erin Norton's fourth-ranked mark by 42.

EMU VS. THE HORIZON: EMU's non-conference schedule consists of three Horizon League institutions, beginning with Detroit Mercy. Eastern boasts a 28-21-7 record against members of the Indianapolis, Ind.-based conference, having played seven of its 10 current members. EMU owns perfect records against Youngstown (5-0-0), Illinois-Chicago (2-0-0), and Green Bay (4-0-0). Eastern also leads in the all-time series with IUPUI (7-3-2) and trails Detroit Mercy by an 8-9-4 tally all-time. Milwaukee won the lone meeting between the squads, while EMU also trails in the series with Oakland, 2-9-1.

GOING AGAINST THE A-10: Eastern Michigan has not played members of the Atlantic 10 Conference often, but when it has the Eagles have been successful. Eastern is 5-0-0 against the Newport News, Va.-based league, having played four of its 14 members. The Green and White are 2-0-0 against Duquesne and 1-0-0 against Dayton, Richmond, and Fordham.
   EMU's last game against an A-10 opponent came in the 2014 season opener at Scicluna Field, Aug. 22. Angela Vultaggio scored in the 25th minute and Emily Dzik added an insurance goal in the 67th minute en route to a 2-0 win.

BRAGGING RIGHTS: The Eagles are 40-56-18 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. The Green and White have been most successful against Central Michigan, posting a 12-6-3 mark against the Chippewas. EMU trails UDM by a slim 8-9-4 margin in 21 total meetings, while the Eagles also trail in series with Michigan (0-8-2), Michigan State (1-12-3), and Oakland (2-9-1).

HOME COOKING: Eastern Michigan has found consistent success when playing at home over the past 23 years, compiling a 109-55-28 overall record, good for a .641 win percentage, at Scicluna Field. Last season, the Green and White were 6-2-1 on its home pitch.

EMU IN ITS HOME OPENER: The Eagles are 12-7-4 all-time in their first home game of the year. Eastern has tied Illinois State (1-1) and Butler (0-0) in its last two home openers, and is unbeaten in its last five home lid lifters.

SOME EMU DEBUTS: Freshmen Simone Chiodo and Kylie Frantz and sophomore Haley Tausend made their EMU debuts over the weekend. Chiodo joined Tausend in the starting lineup Sunday, while Frantz was one of the first Eagles of the bench in both matches.

BACK-TO-BACK SHUTOUTS: Eastern Michigan found itself on the wrong side of a pair of shutouts over the weekend, Aug. 17-19. EMU was blanked, 3-0, at Purdue Friday, Aug. 17, before being edged out, 1-0, at Illinois State, Aug. 19. It marked the first time the Eagles were shutout in back-to-back games since October 24-26, 2016.

MAKE ROOM, McCABE!: Senior keeper Kaylin Williams moved into the top spot in Eastern Michigan history for shots faced over the weekend, surpassing former teammate Megan McCabe's mark of 709. McCabe sported the Green and White from 2012-15, mentoring then-freshman Williams in an injury-ridden senior season.

ON THE HORIZON: The Green and White close out a three-game homestand Friday, Aug. 31, when the Eagles host the Bluejays of Creighton University at noon.

Soccer Begins Three-Game Homestand Against Detroit Mercy, Dayton

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Players Mentioned

Simone Chiodo

Emily Dzik

Kylie Frantz

Megan McCabe

Martha Stevens

Haley Tausend

Angela Vultaggio

Kaylin Williams

Eastern Michigan Athletics