Eastern Michigan Athletics
Sunday, March 14
DeKalb, Ill.
3 p.m. CT
Eastern Michigan University
at
Northern Illinois
Soccer Headed to DeKalb for Matchup with Northern Illinois
3/12/2021 11:30:00 AM | Soccer
The Eagles and Huskies each enter the weekend with 1-1 records
| Soccer at Northern Illinois | |
| Date | Sunday, March 14 | 3 p.m. CT |
| Venue | NIU Soccer Complex | DeKalb, Ill. |
| Match Notes | EMU Notes |
| Live Stats | EMUEagles.com |
| @EMUSoccer | @EMUAthletics | |
DEKALB, Ill. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University soccer team continues Mid-American Conference action Sunday, March 14 against Northern Illinois University. The game will be played in DeKalb, Ill. at the NIU Soccer Complex at 3 p.m., CT.
Fans can follow the game via live stats. The link can be found on the soccer schedule page of EMUEagles.com. Additionally, updates will be posted from the team's Twitter account, @EMUSoccer.
200 WATCH: With the 2-1 win over Central Michigan, March 4, Eastern Michigan Head Coach Scott Hall notched his 199th career victory to move his career records to 199-177-54 overall and 126-90-26 in Mid-American Conference action.
The "Ironman of the MAC" has a chance to secure his 200th career victory, all as the head coach at Eastern Michigan, against Northern Illinois, March 14.
Hall is the longest tenured soccer coach in the MAC, and his three MAC Regular Season titles are tied for the most in conference history.
GAME OF POSSESSION: In each of its first two matches in 2021, Eastern Michigan has been able to finish the match with the advantage in possession. Controlling the ball for 52% of the time against Central Michigan, March 4, and 54% of the time at Western Michigan, March 7, increasing its time with the ball is a trend the Eagles hope to continue as the season rolls on.
...NEXT!: 20 of Eastern Michigan's 23 players logged time on the pitch at Western Michigan, March 7. The number marks the most players to appear in a match for EMU since the same competed at Youngstown State, Sept. 13, 2019.
FULL 90: Through two games, junior Kylie Frantz is the only player on the roster to have logged all 90 minutes on the pitch in both games. Prior to the first matches of 2021, Frantz has only had one complete game in her career, spending 99 minutes on the pitch in an overtime draw at Youngstown State, Sept. 13, 2019.
PUTTING THEM ON FRAME: Through two games in 2021, Eastern Michigan leads its opponents in shots (27-26), but also in shots on goal. The Eagles have managed to put 14 of their shots on target, leading its opponents in shots on goal percentage (.519 to .423).
LIFTING THE LID: With its 2-1 victory over Central Michigan, March 4, the Eastern Michigan soccer team moved to 12-7-7 all-time in season-openers. In addition, the Eagles improved to 14-7-3 in conference openers, and remained unbeaten at home in those games (9-0-1).
EASTERN VS. THE MITTEN: The Eagles sit 48-59-19 all-time against teams hailing fom the State of Michigan. EMU's most common in-state opponent is Western Michigan, with 32 all-time meetings (13-14-4). Central Michigan follows, with 24 all-time matchups, and Detroit Mercy close behind at 23 meetings. The Green and White hold the advantage in both series, with a 15-6-3 record against the Chippewas and 10-9-4 mark against the Titans.
FRESHMAN ON THE MOVE: Freshman Lexy Alston was the deciding factor in EMU's match against Central Michigan, March 4. Scoring the game-winning goal in the 87th minute, the Amherst, Ohio native became the 10th Eagle in program history to score in their debut game.
The last Eagle to do so was teammate Amanda Cripps, who scored in her Green and White debut against Oakland, Aug. 22, 2019.
ALWAYS USING HER HEAD: Junior Sarah Ash leveled the score at one in the 77th minute against Central Michigan, March 4, by sending a header to the top-right corner of the goal.
A season ago, scoring her first career goal, Ash once again used her head to tie the game, heading the ball past the Ball State keeper in Eastern's 3-2 OT loss, Sept. 29, 2019.
HOME SWEET DOME: March 4, 2021 marked the first time the St. Joe's Sports Dome has been used for counted athletic competition in the history of Eastern Michigan Athletics. While the facility has hosted spring soccer games in past seasons, it has not held any regular-season competition .
WATCH OUT FOR TAUSEND: In the past two meetings between Eastern and Central, EMU senior Haley Tausend has been the deciding factor. Oct. 25, 2018, Tausend netted the game-winning, overtime goal to push the Eagles past the Chips. A season later, Oct. 31, 2019, Tausend came through again for the Green and White, scoring the game-winner in the 27th minute to clinch EMU's spot in the postseason.
While not scoring in the 2021 meeting between the two sides, Tausend still played a large role in the victory, tallying the assist on Sarah Ash's goal that evened the score.
FIRST TIME IN THE SPRING: The start of the 2021 season marked the first time the program has played a regular season match in the month of March, as well as the latest start to a season in program history.
SERIES HISTORY: Eastern Michigan holds a dominant advantage in the all-time series between the Eagles and Huskies, compiling a 17-5-3 record in those meetings. The Green and White are unbeaten against NIU at home, holding an 8-0-3 mark, but are 9-4 when taking on the Huskies away from Ypsilanti.
Eastern has won the last three meetings between the two sides, while Northern's last victory came in 2-1 fashion in DeKalb, Ill., Sept. 25, 2016.
LAST MEETING: Securing its first Mid-American Conference victory of the season, Eastern Michigan downed Northern Illinois, 3-1, at Scicluna Field, Oct. 4, 2019. Sabrina McNeill found the back of the net just five minutes in to put the Eagles up, 1-0. NIU found the equalizer in the 33rd minute, sending the game into the break tied at one. Lindsey Shira found the game-winner in the 62nd minute, while Amanda Cripps added an insurance goal in the 79th minute to close out the game, 3-1.
LAST TIME IN ILLINOIS: It was a night of firsts for Eastern Michigan against Northern Illinois in Mid-American Conference action, Oct. 12, in DeKalb, Ill., as a pair of Eagles turned in outstanding performances to lead EMU past NIU, 1-nil. Then-freshman Kylie Frantz scored the first goal of her career, and then-junior goalkeeper Mabel Dunn posted her first career shutout with a six-save effort to secure Eastern's first win in DeKalb since 2012.
SAME NUMBERS, NEW FACES: Eastern Michigan welcomed three additions to the program in the fall in Lexy Alston, Vittoria Greco, and Sam Lenaghan. EMU's #4, #11, and #17 will all see new faces don those jerseys in 2021. The freshman will have big shoes to fill, as the seniors that occupied those numbers last season left a lasting impression on the program.
Alston will take over #4, previously worn by Peyton Davis, who was a Second Team All-MAC selection and three-time Academic All-MAC honoree for EMU.
Greco will wear #11, previously donned by Kristin Hullibarger, a Second Team All-MAC selection, 2019 All-MAC Tournament team member, four-time Academic All-MAC honoree, and Third Team CoSIDA Academic All-American, who also led the Green and White in points in 2019 (18) and tied for most goals (7).
Lenaghan will don #17, taking it over after Aubrey Martin graduated. Martin was the 2020 MAC Medal of Excellence female recipient from Eastern Michigan, while also garnering three Academic All-MAC selections and helping the Eagle defense to eight shutouts in her time with the program.
SCOTT HALL'S RECRUITING MAP: It is no surprise that the three additions to Eastern Michigan's 2020 roster hail from Ohio (Lexy Alston) and Ontario (Vittoria Greco and Sam Lenaghan). In Head Coach Scott Hall's 25 seasons with the program, the three largest states or provinces of origin for players are: Michigan - 109, Ohio - 43, and Ontario - 31.
WELCOME TO THE NCA-EH: The 2020-21 Eastern Michigan soccer roster features nine Canadians, the third-most in program history. The 2018 and 2019 squads each featured 11 players from up north, while 2016 and 2017 rosters each had 10.
MAC PRESEASON POLL: The Eastern Michigan University soccer team was picked to finish second in the MAC West, the conference office announced, March 3. EMU received 58 points and four first-place votes, while also garnering two predicted champion nods.
MAC Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll
MAC Women's Soccer East Division Coaches Poll
1. Bowling Green – 67 points (8 first place votes)
2. Buffalo – 61 points (3)
3. Kent State – 41 points (1)
4. Ohio – 39 points
5. Akron – 24 points
6. Miami – 20 points
MAC Women's Soccer West Division Coaches Poll
1. Ball State – 64 points (6 first place votes)
2. Eastern Michigan – 58 points (4)
3. Western Michigan – 52 points (2)
4. Central Michigan – 39 points
5. Toledo – 26 points
6. Northern Illinois – 13 points
Predicted Champion: Bowling Green (7), Eastern Michigan (2), Ball State (1), Buffalo (1), Western Michigan (1)
ON THE HORIZON: Eastern Michigan begins its three-game homestand, beginning with a visit from the University of Toledo, Thursday, March 18. Game time is set for 4 p.m.
Fans can follow the game via live stats. The link can be found on the soccer schedule page of EMUEagles.com. Additionally, updates will be posted from the team's Twitter account, @EMUSoccer.
200 WATCH: With the 2-1 win over Central Michigan, March 4, Eastern Michigan Head Coach Scott Hall notched his 199th career victory to move his career records to 199-177-54 overall and 126-90-26 in Mid-American Conference action.
The "Ironman of the MAC" has a chance to secure his 200th career victory, all as the head coach at Eastern Michigan, against Northern Illinois, March 14.
Hall is the longest tenured soccer coach in the MAC, and his three MAC Regular Season titles are tied for the most in conference history.
GAME OF POSSESSION: In each of its first two matches in 2021, Eastern Michigan has been able to finish the match with the advantage in possession. Controlling the ball for 52% of the time against Central Michigan, March 4, and 54% of the time at Western Michigan, March 7, increasing its time with the ball is a trend the Eagles hope to continue as the season rolls on.
...NEXT!: 20 of Eastern Michigan's 23 players logged time on the pitch at Western Michigan, March 7. The number marks the most players to appear in a match for EMU since the same competed at Youngstown State, Sept. 13, 2019.
FULL 90: Through two games, junior Kylie Frantz is the only player on the roster to have logged all 90 minutes on the pitch in both games. Prior to the first matches of 2021, Frantz has only had one complete game in her career, spending 99 minutes on the pitch in an overtime draw at Youngstown State, Sept. 13, 2019.
PUTTING THEM ON FRAME: Through two games in 2021, Eastern Michigan leads its opponents in shots (27-26), but also in shots on goal. The Eagles have managed to put 14 of their shots on target, leading its opponents in shots on goal percentage (.519 to .423).
LIFTING THE LID: With its 2-1 victory over Central Michigan, March 4, the Eastern Michigan soccer team moved to 12-7-7 all-time in season-openers. In addition, the Eagles improved to 14-7-3 in conference openers, and remained unbeaten at home in those games (9-0-1).
EASTERN VS. THE MITTEN: The Eagles sit 48-59-19 all-time against teams hailing fom the State of Michigan. EMU's most common in-state opponent is Western Michigan, with 32 all-time meetings (13-14-4). Central Michigan follows, with 24 all-time matchups, and Detroit Mercy close behind at 23 meetings. The Green and White hold the advantage in both series, with a 15-6-3 record against the Chippewas and 10-9-4 mark against the Titans.
FRESHMAN ON THE MOVE: Freshman Lexy Alston was the deciding factor in EMU's match against Central Michigan, March 4. Scoring the game-winning goal in the 87th minute, the Amherst, Ohio native became the 10th Eagle in program history to score in their debut game.
The last Eagle to do so was teammate Amanda Cripps, who scored in her Green and White debut against Oakland, Aug. 22, 2019.
ALWAYS USING HER HEAD: Junior Sarah Ash leveled the score at one in the 77th minute against Central Michigan, March 4, by sending a header to the top-right corner of the goal.
A season ago, scoring her first career goal, Ash once again used her head to tie the game, heading the ball past the Ball State keeper in Eastern's 3-2 OT loss, Sept. 29, 2019.
HOME SWEET DOME: March 4, 2021 marked the first time the St. Joe's Sports Dome has been used for counted athletic competition in the history of Eastern Michigan Athletics. While the facility has hosted spring soccer games in past seasons, it has not held any regular-season competition .
WATCH OUT FOR TAUSEND: In the past two meetings between Eastern and Central, EMU senior Haley Tausend has been the deciding factor. Oct. 25, 2018, Tausend netted the game-winning, overtime goal to push the Eagles past the Chips. A season later, Oct. 31, 2019, Tausend came through again for the Green and White, scoring the game-winner in the 27th minute to clinch EMU's spot in the postseason.
While not scoring in the 2021 meeting between the two sides, Tausend still played a large role in the victory, tallying the assist on Sarah Ash's goal that evened the score.
FIRST TIME IN THE SPRING: The start of the 2021 season marked the first time the program has played a regular season match in the month of March, as well as the latest start to a season in program history.
SERIES HISTORY: Eastern Michigan holds a dominant advantage in the all-time series between the Eagles and Huskies, compiling a 17-5-3 record in those meetings. The Green and White are unbeaten against NIU at home, holding an 8-0-3 mark, but are 9-4 when taking on the Huskies away from Ypsilanti.
Eastern has won the last three meetings between the two sides, while Northern's last victory came in 2-1 fashion in DeKalb, Ill., Sept. 25, 2016.
LAST MEETING: Securing its first Mid-American Conference victory of the season, Eastern Michigan downed Northern Illinois, 3-1, at Scicluna Field, Oct. 4, 2019. Sabrina McNeill found the back of the net just five minutes in to put the Eagles up, 1-0. NIU found the equalizer in the 33rd minute, sending the game into the break tied at one. Lindsey Shira found the game-winner in the 62nd minute, while Amanda Cripps added an insurance goal in the 79th minute to close out the game, 3-1.
LAST TIME IN ILLINOIS: It was a night of firsts for Eastern Michigan against Northern Illinois in Mid-American Conference action, Oct. 12, in DeKalb, Ill., as a pair of Eagles turned in outstanding performances to lead EMU past NIU, 1-nil. Then-freshman Kylie Frantz scored the first goal of her career, and then-junior goalkeeper Mabel Dunn posted her first career shutout with a six-save effort to secure Eastern's first win in DeKalb since 2012.
SAME NUMBERS, NEW FACES: Eastern Michigan welcomed three additions to the program in the fall in Lexy Alston, Vittoria Greco, and Sam Lenaghan. EMU's #4, #11, and #17 will all see new faces don those jerseys in 2021. The freshman will have big shoes to fill, as the seniors that occupied those numbers last season left a lasting impression on the program.
Alston will take over #4, previously worn by Peyton Davis, who was a Second Team All-MAC selection and three-time Academic All-MAC honoree for EMU.
Greco will wear #11, previously donned by Kristin Hullibarger, a Second Team All-MAC selection, 2019 All-MAC Tournament team member, four-time Academic All-MAC honoree, and Third Team CoSIDA Academic All-American, who also led the Green and White in points in 2019 (18) and tied for most goals (7).
Lenaghan will don #17, taking it over after Aubrey Martin graduated. Martin was the 2020 MAC Medal of Excellence female recipient from Eastern Michigan, while also garnering three Academic All-MAC selections and helping the Eagle defense to eight shutouts in her time with the program.
SCOTT HALL'S RECRUITING MAP: It is no surprise that the three additions to Eastern Michigan's 2020 roster hail from Ohio (Lexy Alston) and Ontario (Vittoria Greco and Sam Lenaghan). In Head Coach Scott Hall's 25 seasons with the program, the three largest states or provinces of origin for players are: Michigan - 109, Ohio - 43, and Ontario - 31.
WELCOME TO THE NCA-EH: The 2020-21 Eastern Michigan soccer roster features nine Canadians, the third-most in program history. The 2018 and 2019 squads each featured 11 players from up north, while 2016 and 2017 rosters each had 10.
MAC PRESEASON POLL: The Eastern Michigan University soccer team was picked to finish second in the MAC West, the conference office announced, March 3. EMU received 58 points and four first-place votes, while also garnering two predicted champion nods.
MAC Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll
MAC Women's Soccer East Division Coaches Poll
1. Bowling Green – 67 points (8 first place votes)
2. Buffalo – 61 points (3)
3. Kent State – 41 points (1)
4. Ohio – 39 points
5. Akron – 24 points
6. Miami – 20 points
MAC Women's Soccer West Division Coaches Poll
1. Ball State – 64 points (6 first place votes)
2. Eastern Michigan – 58 points (4)
3. Western Michigan – 52 points (2)
4. Central Michigan – 39 points
5. Toledo – 26 points
6. Northern Illinois – 13 points
Predicted Champion: Bowling Green (7), Eastern Michigan (2), Ball State (1), Buffalo (1), Western Michigan (1)
ON THE HORIZON: Eastern Michigan begins its three-game homestand, beginning with a visit from the University of Toledo, Thursday, March 18. Game time is set for 4 p.m.
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