Soccer Set to Conclude Non-Conference Play

Soccer vs. Western Illinois \| Soccer vs. Loyola-Chicago
Date	Friday, Sept. 17 - 5 p.m. ET/4 p.m. CT \| Sunday, Sept. 19 - 2 p.m. ET/1 p.m. CT
Venue	Macomb, Ill. - John MacKenzie Alumni Field \| Chicago, Ill. - Loyola Soccer Park
Preview Info	EMU Notes
Watch	Fighting Leathernecks All-Acess (Western Illinois) \| ESPN+ (Loyola-Chicago)
Live Stats	Live Stats
Twitter	@EMUSoccer \| @EMUAthletics

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University soccer team will conclude its non-conference schedule with a two-match weekend in Illinois, battling Western Illinois on Friday, Sept. 17, and Loyola-Chicago on Sunday, Sept. 19.
   The contest against Western Illinois is set to begin at 5 p.m. ET, while kickoff versus Loyola-Chicago will begin at 2 p.m. ET. Fans can follow the match against the Leathernecks via live stats while the match against the Ramblers will be streamed via ESPN+ and live stats. Additionally, updates will be posted from the team's Twitter account, @EMUSoccer.

LEADING THE EAGLES: The Green and White attack has been diverse to start the season as four individuals lead the squad in goals (1) in redshirt juniors Chloe Chatzis and Madeline Olson, freshmen Jamie Lefebvre and Maddie O'Farrell. Freshman Lexy Alston has the lone assist for the Eagles. Alston and senior Lindsey Shira pace EMU in shots (10).
   In net, senior Chelsea Abbotts leads the Eagles in saves (24) and recorded the win, 2-1, for Eastern against Morehead State, Sept. 5.

OPENING 2021: Eastern Michigan is 1-4-1 overall as the team enters the final week of non-conference play. In the Eagles' season-opener, the team fell to Illinois State by a score of 4-0, Aug. 19, at Scicluna Field. In EMU's most recent contest, the Green and White defeated Morehead State by a score of 2-1, Sept. 5, to give EMU its first victory of the 2021 campaign.
Freshman Jamie Lefebvre and redshirt junior Madeline Olson led the Green and White's attack as the pair both scored goals for Eastern. Lefebvre tallied a game-high four shots (two on goal) while Olson earned a game-high three shots on goal.
   Senior Lindsey Shira notched two shots on goal and redshirt junior Chloe Chatzis earned a shot on target for EMU' offense on Sunday.

ALL FOR ABBOTTS: Keeper Chelsea Abbotts has faced a total of 72 shots to start her senior campaign. Abbotts currently has 98 career saves and needs just two for the mark of 100 career saves.

A GAME OF FIRSTS: In the team's first-ever meeting against Syracuse, Aug. 29, freshman Maddie O'Farrell netted her first career goal and gave the Eagles their first goal of the 2021 campaign. Meanwhile, sophomore keeper Rebecca Przybylo started her second consecutive match in net for Eastern for the first time in her collegiate career.
   Freshmen Sophia D'Ambra, Ashley Schneider, and Jamie Lefebvre all made their first collegiate starts for EMU against the Orange, Aug. 29.

A LOOK AT WESTERN ILLINOIS: The Leathernecks have started their 2021 campaign with a record of 5-2-0, which is currently tied for second in The Summit League. In the team's most recent outing, Western Illinois defeated IUPUI by a score of 4-1 on Sunday, Sept. 12. Western Illinois is currently on a five-game winning streak.
   The Leathernecks' attack has been efficient early in the season, as the squad has scored a total of 15 goals in the team's first seven matches (2.14 goals per game). Despite the offensive pressure, the Western Illinois defense has given up a total of 17 goals (2.43 goals per game) coming into the weekend. The Leathernecks rank in the top five in every category in The Summit League including shots (100), shots on goal (56), saves (41), and corners (35). Additionally, Amy Andrews ranks No. 1 in the NCAA in shots on goal per game.

HISTORY VS. WESTERN ILLINOIS: This will be the third meeting between Eastern and Western Illinois. The Leathernecks lead the all-time head-to-head series by a record of 2-0-0. The Eagles will be looking for their first win against the Leathernecks.
   In the latest meeting between the two squads, Western Illinois defeated EMU by a score of 1-0 on Sept. 1, 2006 at Scicluna Field. The two teams have not played one another in 15 years.

A LOOK AT LOYOLA-CHICAGO: As for the Ramblers, they have begun the 2021 slate with a record of 4-2-1. Loyola-Chicago fell to No. 23 Xavier, 2-1, on Sept. 12, in its latest match. The Ramblers currently rank second in the Missouri Valley Conference with a 4-2-1 record.
   Loyola-Chicago has out-shot their opposition 76-61 this season and has tallied 30 shots on target. The Rambler offense has kept the opposition on their toes as the squad has tallied 50 corner kick opportunities, doubling their opponents.

HISTORY VS. LOYOLA-CHICAGO: This will be the fourth meeting between EMU and Loyola-Chicago. The all-time head-to-head series between the two programs is currently tied at 1-1-1. The last two meetings against the Ramblers have both gone into extra time. In the latest meeting, Loyola-Chicago defeated Eastern by a score of 1-0 in overtime on Sept. 22, 2019 at Scicluna Field. The only time the two squads have played in Chicago, Ill. the Eagles defeated the Ramblers, 1-0, on Aug. 30, 2015 at the Loyola Soccer Complex.

MAKE IT THREE IN A ROW: The Eagles defeated Detroit Mercy by a score of 2-1 in EMU's lone exhibition match to start the 2021 season, Aug. 12. The result marked the team's third consecutive victory over the Titans dating back to Sept. 17, 2017.
Eastern's offense netted scores in both halves, including an early score for senior Lindsey Shira in the third minute and a goal for freshman Chloe Rajewski in the 79th minute, which would be the deciding score. Fellow freshman Lexy Alston recorded an assist for the Eagles.

PLUS EIGHT: Eastern Michigan welcomes eight additions to the roster for the 2021 season, the largest signing class for Head Coach Scott Hall and Assistant Coach Joe Malachino since their 10-person class of 2017.
Joining the Eagles this season are: Sophia D'Ambra, KJ Hudson, Jamie Lefebvre, Meagan Lukowski, Maddie O'Farrell, Chloe Rajewski, Ashley Schneider, and Tess Williams.

ON THE HORIZON: The Eagles will travel to Muncie, Ind. to play Ball State, Sept. 23, to begin Mid-American Conference play.

For updates on all things Eastern Michigan soccer, continue to check EMUEagles.com and be sure to follow the team on Instagram and Twitter, @EMUSoccer.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Chelsea Abbotts

Lexy Alston

Chloe Chatzis

Sophia D'Ambra

KJ Hudson

Jamie Lefebvre

Meagan Lukowski

Maddie O'Farrell

Madeline Olson

Rebecca Przybylo

Chloe Rajewski

Ashley Schneider

Lindsey Shira

Tess Williams

Eastern Michigan Athletics