Soccer Readies for Northeast Road Swing

Soccer at UConn \| at UMass
Date	Friday, Sept. 14 - 7 p.m. \| Sunday, Sept. 16 - 1 p.m.
Venue	Storrs, Ct. - Joseph J. Morrone Stadium \| Amherst, Mass. - Rudd Field
Preview Info	EMU Notes
Live Stats	Live Stats at UConn \| Live Stats at UMass
Live Stream	at UConn ($$) \| vs. UMass (ESPN+) \| Guide to ESPN+
Twitter	@EMU Soccer \| @EMUAthletics

STORRS, Ct. & AMHERST, Mass. (EMUEagles.com) - Winners of its last three matches, the Eastern Michigan University soccer team looks to remain hot as it travels northeast for a pair of matches against the University of Connecticut and the University of Massachusetts, Sept. 14-16. EMU (4-3-0) kicks off the season Friday night under the lights against UConn, Sept. 14, at 7 p.m., before a 1 p.m. bout Sunday, Sept. 16, at UMass.
   The Eagles enter the final weekend of non-conference play on the heels of a thrilling 2-1 win over the Flames of Illinois-Chicago. The Huskies (2-6-0) host EMU following a 1-1 weekend in Fayetteville, Ark. where UConn bested Ole Miss, 4-3, before falling to Arkansas, 3-1. Like the Eagles, UMass heads into the weekend on a three-game win streak, having shutout New Hampshire, 4-0, Delaware, 3-0, and Chicago State, 8-0.
   The EMU-UConn clash will air on Huskies All-Access, while EMU's tilt versus UMass will be broadcast on ESPN+. Links for live streams and live stats for the matches 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.

SHOTS! SHOTS! SHOTS!: Eastern Michigan kept the Illinois-Chicago goalkeeper busy Sunday, Sept. 9, firing off a season-high 28 shots. It was the third time this season EMU has totalled 20-or-more shots in a match, the most matches it has accomplished that feat since the 2015 campaign. Additionally, the Eagles' 28 rips were the most since tallying 31 against Bowling Green, Oct. 29, 2015.

LOOKING FOR MORE: EMU's thrilling 2-1 win against Illinois-Chicago gave the Eagles their third straight victory dating back to Aug. 31. It is Eastern's longest win streak since Oct. 6-9, 2016, when EMU knocked off Bowling Green, 2-1, Toledo, 2-1, and Ohio, 2-0.
   With a fourth straight win, the Eagles would match their longest streak since Sept. 7-28, 2014. That year, the Green and White defeated Oregon State, 1-0, UIC, 4-2, Miami, 2-0, and Ball State, 2-1, en route to its second consecutive MAC West Division title.

SERIES HISTORY: When it comes to Eastern Michigan's history against UConn and UMass, there simply is not any. The Eagles will square off against the Huskies and Minutewomen for the first time in their 23-year history.

EMU AGAINST THE AMERICAN: Eastern has very little experience against the American Athletic Conference, having only played one of its 10 members. EMU squared off against East Carolina more than 20 years ago when the Pirates were members of Conference USA. The Eagles came out on top, 2-1, in their meeting with the Pirates. Goals by Courtney Sindelar and Amanda Kulikowski secured the come-from-behind win, Aug. 31, 2001.

BATTLING THE A-10: Eastern Michigan has not played members of the Atlantic 10 Conference often, but when they have the Eagles have been successful. Eastern is 5-1-0 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 Richmond and Fordham. EMU is 1-1-0 versus Dayton, having dropped a match to the Flyers earlier this season.
EMU's last win 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.

MAKIN' MOVES: Redshirt sophomore Sabrina McNeill continued to climb EMU's career points ladder with a three-point weekend, Aug. 31-Sept. 2. The speedy midfielder scored a goal and added an assist to bump her career total to 23 points and crack EMU's top-25 all-time. McNeill currently sits tied for 23rd-most in EMU history, while she is just one point behind Ellie Tillar's 22nd-ranked total of 24. EMU E-Club Hall of Famer Jessica Hupe holds the program standard with 117 points.

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 30 saves to her credit this season, the Kansas City, Mo. native has racked up 275 for her career. She currently ranks fifth in EMU laurels, and trails Erin Norton's fourth-ranked mark by 22.

A PERFECT 10: Kristin Nason netted the 10th goal of her career with a game-winning strike against Detroit Mercy Friday, Aug. 24. Nason, the active team leader in goals scored, notched seven as a redshirt freshman in 2015, two last season, and now has two this season. She currently ranks tied for 18th all-time in EMU laurels with 10 goals.

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. For her career, Williams has faced a 795 shots.

ON THE HORIZON: Eastern shifts its focus to the Mid-American Conference portion of the schedule when it returns home next weekend, Sept. 21-23. EMU opens MAC play against preseason favorite Kent State, Sept. 21, at 5 p.m. The weekend concludes with a 1 p.m. tilt versus Ohio Sunday, Sept. 23.

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Players Mentioned

Emily Dzik

Kristin Hullibarger

Megan McCabe

Sabrina McNeill

Ellie Tillar

Angela Vultaggio

Kaylin Williams

Eastern Michigan Athletics