Soccer Heads to Mount Pleasant for Matchup with Chippewas

Soccer at Central Michigan
Date	Thursday, April 1 \| 3 p.m.
Venue	CMU Soccer Complex \| Mount Pleasant, Mich.
Match Notes	EMU Notes
Live Stream	Chippewas All-Access
Live Stats	EMUEagles.com
Twitter	@EMU Soccer \| @EMUAthletics

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – Sitting tied for second in the Mid-American Conference West Division, the Eastern Michigan University soccer team will head to Mount Pleasant, Mich. to take on fellow two-spot Central Michigan University Thursday, April 1, at the CMU Soccer Complex.
   Fans can watch the game on Chippewas All-Access, or follow the game via live stats. The links can be found on the soccer schedule page of EMUEagles.com. Additionally, updates will be posted from the team's Twitter account, @EMUSoccer.

REMATCH W: After being shutout by Western Michigan in the first meeting of the season between the two sides (4-0, March 7), Eastern Michigan rebounded with a 2-1 win over the Broncos, March 28, at the St. Joe's Sports Dome. Dominant all game, the Eagles found the back of the net first in each half to hold off WMU.

ALL FOR AMANDA: Picking up her second goal of the season against Western Michigan, March 28, sophomore Amanda Cripps not only helped EMU to its fourth win of the season, but also pulled her within one point of a career milestone: 20 career points. Currently sitting at 19, a goal or assist could make the Bradford, Ontario the third active member of the Eagles' roster to have at least 20 points (Sabrina McNeill - 63, Lindsey Shira - 25).

TAKE A RISK, TAKE A CHANCE, MAKE A CHANGE: Breakaways have been freshman Lexy Alston's preferred method of scoring this season, as both of her goals have come in that fashion. First against Central Michigan, March 4, the Amherst, Ohio native broke free from the Chippewas at midfield, taking the keeper one-on-one to net her first career goal.
   Against Western Michigan, March 28, Alston once again broke away from her defenders, taking the ball all the way downfield, slipping the ball past the goalkeeper for the game-winner.

IN THE HUNT: With the elimination of the Mid-American Conference Soccer Tournament due to onset issues brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, the league decided to go back to a divisional structure, with the two top finishers from each division meeting in a championship game to determine the MAC's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
   As of March 30, the Eagles and Chippewas are tied for second in the West Division, with overall records of 4-2. Ball State has moved in to first place, with a 4-1-1 ledger. With just three matches remaining for all teams after Thursday, the match between Eastern and Central proves critical for the final push to the finish to make the championship game.

MOVIN' ON UP: After being credited with the assist on Amanda Cripps' goal against Western Michigan, March 28, redshirt senior Sabrina McNeill recorded her 63rd career point, which moved her in to a tie for fifth place on the program's all-time points list.
   McNeill began the season in ninth place with 52 points, and has since scored five goals and tallied one assist to continue to move up the list.
   With her goal against Ball State, March 21, the Whitby, Ontario native recorded her 25th career goal in the Green and White, moving her into sole possession of fourth place on the program's all-time career goals scored list. She needs eight more to tie Angela Vultaggio, who sits in third place with 33 career goals.

CREATING CHANCES: Proving that everyone can create scoring chances on the field, seven of Eastern Michigan's eight assists so far this season have all been recorded by different players - Haley Tausend (vs. CMU, March 4), Alia Frederick (at NIU, March 14), Kennady Kuhlman (at NIU, March 14 and vs. WMU, March28), Marla Cobetto (vs. Toledo, March 18), Lindsey Shira (vs. Toledo, March 18), Amanda Cripps (vs. Ball State, March 21), and Sabrina McNeill (vs. WMU, March 28). Kuhlman became the first Eagle to record multiple assists this season with her helper to Lexy Alston on the game-winner, vs. WMU, March 28.

WATCH OUT FOR TAUSEND: In past meetings between Eastern and Central, EMU senior Haley Tausend has been or contributed to 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.

PUTTING THEM ON FRAME: While Eastern Michigan's opponents may hold the advantage in shots taken through the first five games of the season (84-79), the Green and White lead its opponents where it counts: in shots on goal. The Eagles have put 50 of its shots on target, compared to opponents' 32, resulting in a .633-.381 advantage in shots on goal percentage.

SERIES HISTORY: Eastern Michigan and Central Michigan will meet for the 25th time when the two sides face off, April 1. The Eagles hold a decisive advantage in the all-time meetings, 15-6-3.

LAST MEETING: In its first action of the season, Eastern Michigan defeated Central Michigan, 2-1, inside the St. Joe's Sports Dome, Thursday, March 4.
   Central Michigan was the first to score, finding the back of the net in the 20th minute. The Chippewas dominated play for most of the first half, and took a one-goal lead into the break.
   It was not until the 77th minute that the Eagles were able to get on the board, leveling the score following a corner kick. Sarah Ash headed the ball past the keeper for the equalizer, and freshman Lexy Alston found the game-winner in her collegiate debut in the 86th minute on a breakaway to seal the win for EMU, 2-1.

LAST TIME IN MOUNT PLEASANT: Battling through sleet and snow, Eastern Michigan clinched its spot in the Mid-American Conference tournament with a 3-1 win over Central Michigan, on Halloween, Oct. 31, 2019, at the CMU Soccer Complex.
   Despite CMU finding the back of the net first in the 14th minute, EMU responded with three unanswered. In the 27th minute, with Kristin Hullibarger crossed the ball to Sabrina McNeill, who snuck it past the Chippewas' goalkeeper to tie the game. 10 minutes later, Nicole Remedios perfectly placed a corner kick to the head of Haley Tausend for the game-winner and the 2-1 lead for the Eagles. Adding some insurance, Hullibarger tapped a deflected shot to Amanda Cripps, who sent the ball to the back of the net and sealed the win, 3-1.

EASTERN VS. THE MITTEN: The Eagles sit 49-59-19 all-time against teams hailing from the State of Michigan. EMU's most common in-state opponent is Western Michigan, with 32 all-time meetings (14-14-4). 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.

ON THE HORIZON: The Eagles return home for the last time of the 2021 regular season, hosting Northern Illinois, April 4, for an Easter Sunday Senior Day celebration. The match is set to begin at 1 p.m., with halftime recognition planned for Eastern's senior class.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Lexy Alston

Sarah Ash

Marla Cobetto

Amanda Cripps

Alia Frederick

Kristin Hullibarger

Kennady Kuhlman

Sabrina McNeill

Nicole Remedios

Lindsey Shira

Haley Tausend

Angela Vultaggio

Eastern Michigan Athletics