Eastern Michigan Athletics
Sunday, April 11
Muncie, Ind.
2 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
at
Ball State
Soccer Heads to Ball State for MAC West Title Battle
4/9/2021 12:52:00 PM | Soccer
The 6-2 Eagles take on the 5-2-1 Cardinals in a battle for the MAC West title
| Soccer at Ball State | |
| Date | Sunday, April 11 | 2 p.m. |
| Venue | Briner Sports Compex | Muncie, Ind. |
| Match Notes | EMU Notes |
| Live Stats | EMUEagles.com |
| @EMUSoccer | @EMUAthletics | |
MUNCIE, Ind. (EMUEagles.com) – Needing a win or draw to earn its second berth in as many seasons to the Mid-American Conference Championship game, the Eastern Michigan University soccer team travels to Muncie, Ind. to complete its regular season against Ball State University, Sunday, April 11. Kickoff from Briner Sports Complex is set for 2 p.m.
Fans can watch the game on ESPN3, or follow the game via live stats, with links being found on the soccer schedule page of EMUEagles.com. Additionally, updates will be posted from the team's Twitter account, @EMUSoccer.
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 top finishers from each division meeting in a championship game to determine the MAC's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
As of April 9, Eastern Michigan sits atop the MAC West Division, with an overall record of 6-2. Ball State follows with a 5-2-1 record. To claim the MAC West title, Eastern needs to win or draw Sunday, while Ball State would need the outright win.
ONE OF THE BEST IN THE MIDWEST: In its national rankings released April 6, the United Soccer Coaches organization tabbed Eastern Michigan at No. 8 in the Midwest Region following its wins over Central Michigan, April 1, and Northern Illinois, April 4, to advance the program to 6-2 on the season.
The ranking marks the first for Eastern Michigan since Sept. 30, 2014, when the team was ranked No. 8 in the Great Lakes Region in the then-NSCAA/Continental Tire poll (NSCAA re-branded to United Soccer Coaches in 2017).
SUCCESS AT SCICLUNA: April 4th's four-goal win over Northern Illinois marked the 25th time over the course of the 21-year history of Scicluna Field (dedicated in 1999) that four-or-more goals have been scored by individual teams. Of those 25 games, only four have been four-goal performances by the Eagles' opponent.
The most goals scored by a single team at Scicluna Field is seven, which was by EMU against Buffalo, Oct. 19, 2007 (W, 7-1). The most an opponent has scored is five, coming Aug. 14, 2013, scored by Illinois State.
4 DIFFERENT GOAL SCORERS: In its 4-1 win over Northern Illinois, April 4, Eastern Michigan saw all four goals scored by four different players: Sabrina McNeill, Kylie Frantz, Marla Cobetto, and Lexy Alston.
The feat marked the first time four different players have scored in a game for the Green and White since Sept. 21, 2014, when Mollie Krick, Ellie Tillar, Emily Dzik, and Hallee Kansman each netted a goal in a 4-2 win over UIC in Chicago.
SET MASTERPIECES: Eastern Michigan junior Kylie Frantz has mastered her set piece opportunities this season, scoring each of her two goals in 2021 off them, and both against Northern Illinois.
March 14, at NIU, Frantz launched a perfectly-bent corner kick in the 19th minute that curved past the keeper to put the Eagles up, 2-0. Facing the Huskies a second time, April 4, the Erie, Pa. native scored off a free kick a few yards out from the top of the box in the 51st minute, once again giving EMU the 2-nil advantage.
MARLA GOAL-BETTO: Adding another special moment to an already celebratory day, Eastern Michigan senior Marla Cobetto netted her first goal of the season against Northern Illinois, April 4, on Senior Day at Scicluna Field. The Trenton, Mich. native now has four goals in her career at EMU, and notched her 10th career point earlier this season with an assist against Toledo, March 18.
AMONG THE LEADERS: Eastern Michigan redshirt senior Sabrina McNeill ranks among the best not only in the Mid-American Conference, but also across Division I soccer. The Eagles' goals (6) and points (13) leader ranks at the top of the conference in total shots (36), and her 4.50 shots per game ranks third in the MAC and ninth in the NCAA.
Also displaying her shooting accuracy, the Whitby, Ontario native holds a 2.88 shots on goal per game average, a number that ranks No. 1 in both the MAC and NCAA Division I.
BREAKING AWAY FROM BREAKAWAYS: Scoring her first two goals of the season in breakaway fashion, freshman Lexy Alston netted her third goal by a different mean against the Huskies, April 4. Already in the box, Alston found the deflection of the NIU goalkeeper's save on Kennady Kuhlman's shot, corralling the ball and sending it over the line to score for the Eagles.
MOVIN' ON UP: Continuing her steady climb up the program's all-time records list, redshirt senior Sabrina McNeill moved up once again with her goal against Northern Illinois, April 4. Securing her 65th career point, McNeill is now tied with Katie Lewis (1998-2001) for fourth place on the all-time career points list.
In addition, her 26 career goals rank fourth all-time, surpassing former teammate Kristin Nason's 24 career goals, and is seven shy of Angela Vultaggio, who sits in third place with 33 career goals.
McNeill began the season in ninth place with 52 career points, and has since scored six goals and tallied one assist to continue to move up the list.
PUTTING THEM ON FRAME: While Eastern Michigan and its opponents sit tied for total shots on the season (113-113), the Green and White lead its opponents where it counts: in shots on goal. The Eagles have put 64 of its shots on target, compared to opponents' 45, resulting in a .566-.398 advantage in shots on goal percentage.
As a team, EMU's .566 shot accuracy ranks 25th in the nation and second in the MAC, behind Miami's .623 clip. In addition, the Green and White's 8.00 shots on goal per game average sits at No. 20 in the NCAA, and tops the MAC leaderboard.
CREATING CHANCES: Proving that everyone can create scoring chances on the field, seven of Eastern Michigan's nine assists so far this season have all been recorded by different players - Haley Tausend (vs. CMU, March 4), Alia Frederick (at NIU, March 14 and vs. NIU, April 4), Kennady Kuhlman (at NIU, March 14 and vs. WMU, March 28), 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.
SERIES HISTORY: The Cardinals hold the all-time series lead over the Eagles, 13-8-2, including a 4-1 mark over the last five meetings between the two sides. EMU and BSU will meet twice this season as they did in 2019.
LAST MEETING: Two second-half goals pushed the Cardinals past the Eagles, 2-1, at the St. Joe's Sports Dome, March 21.
Sabrina McNeill put the Eagles on the board in the 29th minute, giving the Eagles a 1-0 advantage it would hold until the 52nd minute. Ball State found the equalizer then, and was able to find the game-winner in the 63rd minute to take the 2-1 win.
LAST TIME IN MUNCIE: Claiming its first Mid-American Conference tournament victory since the 2013 season, Eastern Michigan upset second-seeded Ball State, 2-1, Nov. 3, 2019 at Briner Sports Complex.
Sabrina McNeill found the back of the net first, scoring in the 14th minute on a free kick from the top of the box. Almost equalizing in the 30th minute, Chelsea Abbotts made a save on a Ball State free kick from the top of the box to preserve the Eagles' advantage. Holding the lead through the firs half, the Cardinals were able to find the equalizer in the 60th minute.
Drawing a foul in the box in the final minutes of play, Amanda Cripps converted on the penalty kick to seal the EMU victory, 2-1.
TIMES TWO: For the second-straight season, Eastern Michigan and Ball State will meet two times. In 2019, the Eagles and Cardinals battled in the regular season in Muncie, Ind., with the Cardinals coming away with a 3-2, overtime win, Sept. 29, 2019. At the conclusion of the regular season, the No. 7-seeded EMU was matched against No. 2 BSU, with the Eagles coming away with the 2-1 win in Muncie.
In their first meeting of 2021, Eastern and Ball State met in Ypsilanti, Mich., with the Cardinals claiming the 2-1 victory, March 21.
ON THE HORIZON: The Eagles' fate will be determined in its match against Ball State, April 11. A win or draw would secure EMU's spot in the MAC Championship game, set to take place Saturday, April 17.
Fans can watch the game on ESPN3, or follow the game via live stats, with links being found on the soccer schedule page of EMUEagles.com. Additionally, updates will be posted from the team's Twitter account, @EMUSoccer.
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 top finishers from each division meeting in a championship game to determine the MAC's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
As of April 9, Eastern Michigan sits atop the MAC West Division, with an overall record of 6-2. Ball State follows with a 5-2-1 record. To claim the MAC West title, Eastern needs to win or draw Sunday, while Ball State would need the outright win.
ONE OF THE BEST IN THE MIDWEST: In its national rankings released April 6, the United Soccer Coaches organization tabbed Eastern Michigan at No. 8 in the Midwest Region following its wins over Central Michigan, April 1, and Northern Illinois, April 4, to advance the program to 6-2 on the season.
The ranking marks the first for Eastern Michigan since Sept. 30, 2014, when the team was ranked No. 8 in the Great Lakes Region in the then-NSCAA/Continental Tire poll (NSCAA re-branded to United Soccer Coaches in 2017).
SUCCESS AT SCICLUNA: April 4th's four-goal win over Northern Illinois marked the 25th time over the course of the 21-year history of Scicluna Field (dedicated in 1999) that four-or-more goals have been scored by individual teams. Of those 25 games, only four have been four-goal performances by the Eagles' opponent.
The most goals scored by a single team at Scicluna Field is seven, which was by EMU against Buffalo, Oct. 19, 2007 (W, 7-1). The most an opponent has scored is five, coming Aug. 14, 2013, scored by Illinois State.
4 DIFFERENT GOAL SCORERS: In its 4-1 win over Northern Illinois, April 4, Eastern Michigan saw all four goals scored by four different players: Sabrina McNeill, Kylie Frantz, Marla Cobetto, and Lexy Alston.
The feat marked the first time four different players have scored in a game for the Green and White since Sept. 21, 2014, when Mollie Krick, Ellie Tillar, Emily Dzik, and Hallee Kansman each netted a goal in a 4-2 win over UIC in Chicago.
SET MASTERPIECES: Eastern Michigan junior Kylie Frantz has mastered her set piece opportunities this season, scoring each of her two goals in 2021 off them, and both against Northern Illinois.
March 14, at NIU, Frantz launched a perfectly-bent corner kick in the 19th minute that curved past the keeper to put the Eagles up, 2-0. Facing the Huskies a second time, April 4, the Erie, Pa. native scored off a free kick a few yards out from the top of the box in the 51st minute, once again giving EMU the 2-nil advantage.
MARLA GOAL-BETTO: Adding another special moment to an already celebratory day, Eastern Michigan senior Marla Cobetto netted her first goal of the season against Northern Illinois, April 4, on Senior Day at Scicluna Field. The Trenton, Mich. native now has four goals in her career at EMU, and notched her 10th career point earlier this season with an assist against Toledo, March 18.
AMONG THE LEADERS: Eastern Michigan redshirt senior Sabrina McNeill ranks among the best not only in the Mid-American Conference, but also across Division I soccer. The Eagles' goals (6) and points (13) leader ranks at the top of the conference in total shots (36), and her 4.50 shots per game ranks third in the MAC and ninth in the NCAA.
Also displaying her shooting accuracy, the Whitby, Ontario native holds a 2.88 shots on goal per game average, a number that ranks No. 1 in both the MAC and NCAA Division I.
BREAKING AWAY FROM BREAKAWAYS: Scoring her first two goals of the season in breakaway fashion, freshman Lexy Alston netted her third goal by a different mean against the Huskies, April 4. Already in the box, Alston found the deflection of the NIU goalkeeper's save on Kennady Kuhlman's shot, corralling the ball and sending it over the line to score for the Eagles.
MOVIN' ON UP: Continuing her steady climb up the program's all-time records list, redshirt senior Sabrina McNeill moved up once again with her goal against Northern Illinois, April 4. Securing her 65th career point, McNeill is now tied with Katie Lewis (1998-2001) for fourth place on the all-time career points list.
In addition, her 26 career goals rank fourth all-time, surpassing former teammate Kristin Nason's 24 career goals, and is seven shy of Angela Vultaggio, who sits in third place with 33 career goals.
McNeill began the season in ninth place with 52 career points, and has since scored six goals and tallied one assist to continue to move up the list.
PUTTING THEM ON FRAME: While Eastern Michigan and its opponents sit tied for total shots on the season (113-113), the Green and White lead its opponents where it counts: in shots on goal. The Eagles have put 64 of its shots on target, compared to opponents' 45, resulting in a .566-.398 advantage in shots on goal percentage.
As a team, EMU's .566 shot accuracy ranks 25th in the nation and second in the MAC, behind Miami's .623 clip. In addition, the Green and White's 8.00 shots on goal per game average sits at No. 20 in the NCAA, and tops the MAC leaderboard.
CREATING CHANCES: Proving that everyone can create scoring chances on the field, seven of Eastern Michigan's nine assists so far this season have all been recorded by different players - Haley Tausend (vs. CMU, March 4), Alia Frederick (at NIU, March 14 and vs. NIU, April 4), Kennady Kuhlman (at NIU, March 14 and vs. WMU, March 28), 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.
SERIES HISTORY: The Cardinals hold the all-time series lead over the Eagles, 13-8-2, including a 4-1 mark over the last five meetings between the two sides. EMU and BSU will meet twice this season as they did in 2019.
LAST MEETING: Two second-half goals pushed the Cardinals past the Eagles, 2-1, at the St. Joe's Sports Dome, March 21.
Sabrina McNeill put the Eagles on the board in the 29th minute, giving the Eagles a 1-0 advantage it would hold until the 52nd minute. Ball State found the equalizer then, and was able to find the game-winner in the 63rd minute to take the 2-1 win.
LAST TIME IN MUNCIE: Claiming its first Mid-American Conference tournament victory since the 2013 season, Eastern Michigan upset second-seeded Ball State, 2-1, Nov. 3, 2019 at Briner Sports Complex.
Sabrina McNeill found the back of the net first, scoring in the 14th minute on a free kick from the top of the box. Almost equalizing in the 30th minute, Chelsea Abbotts made a save on a Ball State free kick from the top of the box to preserve the Eagles' advantage. Holding the lead through the firs half, the Cardinals were able to find the equalizer in the 60th minute.
Drawing a foul in the box in the final minutes of play, Amanda Cripps converted on the penalty kick to seal the EMU victory, 2-1.
TIMES TWO: For the second-straight season, Eastern Michigan and Ball State will meet two times. In 2019, the Eagles and Cardinals battled in the regular season in Muncie, Ind., with the Cardinals coming away with a 3-2, overtime win, Sept. 29, 2019. At the conclusion of the regular season, the No. 7-seeded EMU was matched against No. 2 BSU, with the Eagles coming away with the 2-1 win in Muncie.
In their first meeting of 2021, Eastern and Ball State met in Ypsilanti, Mich., with the Cardinals claiming the 2-1 victory, March 21.
ON THE HORIZON: The Eagles' fate will be determined in its match against Ball State, April 11. A win or draw would secure EMU's spot in the MAC Championship game, set to take place Saturday, April 17.
Players Mentioned
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