Soccer Set for Sunday Match Versus Illinois-Chicago

Soccer vs. Illinois-Chicago
Date	Sunday, Sept. 9 - 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 looks for its third straight win Sunday, Sept. 9, when it plays host to the University of Illinois Chicago. Game time is slated for 1 p.m. at Scicluna Field.
   Coming off a 5-2 loss to Illinois State, Sept. 2, Illinois Chicago (0-6-0) begins its trip to the Mitten with a Friday night bout against Western Michigan, Sept. 7, before Sunday's clash with Eastern.
   A link for live stats for the match 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.

SHE DUNN DID IT: Mabel Dunn made the first start of her career in goal Sunday, Sept. 2, in EMU's 1-0 blanking of Oakland. Appearing in the fourth game of her EMU tenure, Dunn registered one save, while not yielding a goal in a combined shutout effort.

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 net 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.

NOTHIN' BEATS CLEAN SHEETS: EMU used a fourth-minute goal to edge Oakland, Sept. 2, and pick up its first shutout of the season. The combined effort of Mabel Dunn and Kaylin Williams kept the Golden Grizzlies silent offensively, as EMU posted its first clean sheet since a 1-0 victory over Northern Illinois, Oct. 22, 2017.

FACING THE FLAMES: Eastern Michigan is a perfect 3-0-0 against Illinois-Chicago all-time, having played the Flames in three of the past four seasons. In the trio of matches, Eastern's offense has outscored UIC, 9-4.
   Most recently, the Eagles topped the Flames, 2-1, in the Windy City, Aug. 20, 2017. Sabrina McNeill and Alia Frederick provided the goal scoring, while Kaylin Williams tallied seven saves.

GRINDING OUT A ROAD WIN: With their 1-0 victory over Oakland, Sept. 2, Eastern Michigan notched its first road win of the season and its first since defeating UIC, 2-1, in Chicago Aug. 20, 2017. Additionally, the Eagles matched their road win total from a season ago as EMU went 1-9-0 away from home during the 2017 season.

EMU VS. THE HORIZON: EMU's non-conference schedule consists of three Horizon League institutions. Eastern boasts a 30-21-7 record against members of the Indianapolis, Ind.-based conference, having played seven of its 10 current members. The Eagles are 2-0 against the conference this season, having topped Detroit Mercy, 2-1, Aug. 24, and most recently blanking Oakland, 1-0, Sept. 9. 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). Milwaukee won the lone meeting between the squads, while EMU also trails in the series with Oakland, 3-9-1.

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).

HOME COOKING: Eastern Michigan has found consistent success when playing at home over the past 23 years, compiling a 111-56-28 overall record, good for a .641 win percentage, at Scicluna Field. This season, EMU is 2-1 on its home pitch.

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 21 saves to her credit this season, the Kansas City, Mo. native has racked up 272 for her career. She currently ranks fifth in EMU laurels, and trails Erin Norton's fourth-ranked mark by 25.

ON THE HORIZON: Eastern Michigan closes out the non-conference portio of the schedule on the road next weekend, Sept. 14-16, as the Eagles travel northeast for games against UConn and UMass. EMU kicks off the weekend against UConn at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 14, before wrapping it up against UMass, Sept. 16, at 1 p.m.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Mabel Dunn

Alia Frederick

Megan McCabe

Sabrina McNeill

Ellie Tillar

Kaylin Williams

Eastern Michigan Athletics