Soccer Returns to the Road to Face St. Bonaventure

Match #3 - St. Bonaventure Bonnies
Date	Sunday, Aug. 28 - 1 p.m. ET
Venue	St. Bonaventure, N.Y.
Preview Info	EMU Notes
Live Stats	Live Stats \| Watch (ESPN+)
Twitter	@EMUSoccer \| @EMUAthletics

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – Coming off a solid opening weekend of play, the Eastern Michigan University soccer program returns to the road this week for one match as the Eagles (1-0-1, 0-0-0 MAC) are set to face St. Bonaventure University (1-0-2, 0-0-0 Atlantic 10) Sunday, Aug. 28. The match with the Bonnies will kick at 1 p.m. ET at the Marra Athletics Field Complex in St. Bonaventure, N.Y., and will be aired live on ESPN+.

QUICK KICKS:
- Eastern Michigan is now playing its 28th varsity season and sports a 246-223-61 record
- Head Coach Scott Hall is currently in his 24th season at the helm of the program and holds an all-time record of 207-192-58 during his time in Ypsilanti
- The Eagles are four wins from their milestone 250th all-time victory
- Eastern opened the season with a 2-2 draw at home against Western Illinois before securing a 4-0 win on the road at Illinois State
- For their efforts, the voters of the United Soccer Coaches ranked the Eagles at No. 9 in the Midwest Region rankings
- Two Eagles opened their accounts with their first collegiate goals last week, including Vittoria Greco against WIU and Meagan Luwkowski with two at ISU
- Maddie O'Farrell added one goal in each match with Sarah Ash scoring the winner at ISU
- Greco's goal came 1:31 into the contest for the third-fastest goal in program history
- Luwkowski tallied two goals and one assist for five points at ISU to place her tied for tied for the eighth-most goals in a single match and the ninth-most points at Eastern
- Against the Redbirds, Eastern tallied four goals and five assists for 13 points, 16th-highest total in a single match for the Eagles
- Looking back, Eastern needed nine matches to score its sixth goal last year while needing 11 matches to post its second multiple-goal match
- All told, seven players have tallied at least one point with four players scoring goals and six total players with at least one assist... last year, 12 players tallied at least one point with nine different goal scorers and six players with assists
- Four Eagles posted several firsts last week, including Lukowski's first collegiate goals; Vittoria Greco's first goal, first assist and first points; Tiffanie Hollingsworth's first assist; and Arielle Fink's first assist and first point
- Six freshmen made their collegiate debuts last weekend, including Fink, Mary Grimes, Emily Iafrate, Secora Johnson, Lily Spotak, and Hannah Thompson

SCOUTING ST. BONAVENTURE: The Bonnies head into Sunday coming off their first victory of 2022, a 1-0 win over Niagara Thursday night at Niagara. Bridget Kennedy score at the 2:06 mark for the winning goal to keep SBU undefeated on the year (1-0-2). The Bonnies played to ties in their first two matches of the season, drawing 2-2 at Marist and 0-0 at Cleveland State. Sunday's match will also mark the Bonnies' first home opener after opening on the road with three straight.

IN THE SERIES - EMU vs SBU: Sunday's match will mark only the second meeting in series history with the two sides playing to a 1-1 draw last year (Aug. 3, 2021) in Ypsilanti. The match looked to be headed to a scoreless draw, but Chloe Chatzis tried to change that as she scored for Eastern at the 81:32 mark. Despite the late lead, the Bonnies tied things up five minutes later (86:19) before both teams saw neither side concede in the two overtime periods.

WEEK IN REVIEW: The Eagles opened their 2022 campaign with a 1-0-1 record after playing visiting Western Illinois to a 2-2 draw before taking a 4-0 win at Illinois State. Eastern's start is its bets since also opening 1-0-1 in 2019 and 2017. Additionally, with at least two goals scored in each of the two matches, it marked the first time since March 14, 2021 (3-0 at Northern Illinois) and March 18, 2021 (3-2 win at home over Toledo) that Eastern has scored multiple goals in back-to-back contests.

POST-MATCH NOTES - WESTERN ILLINOIS:
- EMU broke the scoring early against the Leathernecks, notching the first goal of its season just 1:31 into the game when Greco dropped a shot over the opposing goaltender from 25-yards out. It was the first-career goal for the second-year Eagle. Prior to today's contest, she had appeared in 27 matches, 23 of which were starts.
- O'Farrell needed just 15:09 to put herself in the scoring column in 2022. The goal is the second for the Haslett native in her career and her first since scoring at Syracuse, Aug. 29, 2021.
- Greco stayed active in the first half; she recorded the assist on O'Farrell's goal. The helper is the second of her career, and first since EMU's game against Toledo, Oct. 17, 2021.
- With her goal and assist against the Leathernecks, Greco recorded her first game as an Eagle with both a goal and an assist.
- Greco etched her name in the EMU record book in the early stages of the game against the Leathernecks. Her goal at the 1:31 mark in the first half is the third-fastest to start a game in EMU program history. EMU's best-ever offensive start came Oct. 4, 2015, when Gabriella Mancini netted a shot against Akron University in just 1:05.

POST-MATCH NOTES - ILLINOIS STATE:
- Today's margin of victory (4) is largest for the Eagles since Sept. 22, 2013, when they defeated visiting Indiana State, 4-0. It also is the largest road victory for the Eagles since Sept. 7, 2008, when they posted a 4-0 win at Eastern Illinois.
- As a team, the Eagle recorded four goals and five assists for 13 total points. From a historical standpoint, the four goals ties for the 15th-most in a single match, the five assists rank tied for 11th, and the 13 points rank tied for 16th.
- Six different Eagles recorded at least one point in the game, including three with multiple points, including Sarah Ash (2), Meagan Lukowski (5), and O'Farrell (3).
- Ash's goal stands as her second career game-winning goal (at Northern Illinois, 10/3/21) with the time of the goal (43:39) standing as the 11th-latest first-half goal scored in program history
- Lukowski not only scored her first collegiate goal, but she added herself to a pair of all-time, single-match charts in EMU history, including becoming the 29th player to record two goals in a match and tied for ninth for points in a match with five (2g-1a)
- The last time an EMU player tallied multiple goals in a game came March 18, 2021, when Sabrina McNeill netted two against Toledo
- Rebecca Przybylo's five saves, accompanied by the play of the defense in front of her, produced the team's first shutout since a 0-0 draw with Ball State (away) last year (Sept. 23, 2021) and the team's first shutout victory since April 1, 2021, a 1-0 road win at Central Michigan

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES: Last year, Eastern struggled on the offensive side of the ball, recording just 13 goals. Through two matches this year, the Eagles are off to a much better start with six goals, leaving them nearly half way to their 2021 total. Additionally, in those two matches this year, Eastern has seen seven different players record at least one point with four players scoring at least one goal and six players assisting at least once. Last year, 12 players had points with nine scoring goals and six (the same amount already this year) recording an assist.

DIGGING FOR (MILE)STONES: With their 2-2 draw with Western Illinois and 4-0 road victory at Illinois State, the Eagles improved their all-time record to 246-223-61. With the win over the Redbirds, Eastern is now just four wins away from a milestone: 250 wins. The last milestone Eastern reached was victory No. 225, a 2-0 home win over visiting Kent State University, Sept. 21, 2018.

TWO MORE, TIMES TWO: The victory milestone is not the only chase that is on as two goals Sunday would give the Eagles a pair of goal scoring milestones. Eastern currently has scored 798 goals all-time in program history, regardless of location (home/away/neutral), and are two away from 800. Additionally, the Eagles have tallied 323 goals in road contests, leaving them two shy of 325.

QUICK VITTING: Every team wants to get off to a quick start and Eastern is no exception. And, thanks to the long-range shooting of Vittoria Greco, the Eagles got off to a flying start in their season opener as Greco sent a looping shot over the keeper's hands from about 25 yards out to give Eastern a 1-0 lead just 1:31 into the season. Her goal stands as the third-fastest scored in program history and the fastest since the 2016 campaign when Rachel Washburn put the Eagles on the board in 1:08 in a game against Ohio, Oct. 14.

NEVER TOO LATE: Wile Greco's score came 1:31 after the start of the game, Sarah Ash's goal at Illinois State came at 43:39 in the first half, or 1:21 from the halftime whistle. Ash, who headed home a corner kick from fellow senior Kylie Frantz, now ranks 11th on the program's list of latest first-half goals while also marking the second time she has scored the game-winning goal.

BRACE YOURSELF: Ahead of the Illinois State match, Lukowski had appeared in 19 games (including against Western Illinois three days prior) and carried a career line of zero goals, one assist, one point, and seven shots. In Normal, Ill., Sunday, she was anything but normal as she posted two goals, one assist, five points, and five shots. The 29th player to end a game with two goals for the Eagles and the first since March 18, 2021, Lukowski's day saw her ranked tied for eighth on the program's single-game scoring chart while her five points tied her for ninth.

A FIRST FOR EVERYTHING: The first two matches of the season saw four players record six firsts in their respective careers. Along with Lukowski's first two collegiate goals, Greco tallied her first goal while also adding her first assist and her first points. Tiffanie Hollingsworth recorded her first career assist with a helper in the ISU match while freshman Arielle Fink recorded her first assist and first point in the ISU match as well.

TAKE ME TO YOUR LEADERS: Through matches played Thursday (Aug. 25), the Eagles are well represented in the individual rankings of the MAC. Offensively, Lukowski and O'Farrell are tied for third in goals (two) while the group of Fink, Frantz, Greco, Hollingsworth, and Lukowski are tied for third with one assist. Lukowski, who is tied for second with five shots on goal, is tied for third with O'Farrell with five points while Greco is tied for seventh with three. Defensively, Przybylo is tied for second with a 1.00 goals-against average while also sitting fifth with nine saves.

DEBUTANTES: So far in 2022, six different players have made their collegiate debuts with three each in both matches this year. The list of debutantes includes Arielle Fink, Mary Grimes, Emily Iafrate, Secora Johnson, Lily Spotak, and Hannah Thompson

FOLLOW THE LEADER: The 2022 campaign marks the 24th season Scott Hall will lead the Eagles and his 28th with the program after serving as an assistant coach the first four years the program existed. Sporting a career record of 206-192-57, Hall is the most tenured coach in the MAC and carries a record of 129-98-28 into the season. Hall has guided Eastern to four league titles, including the double in 1999 with the MAC regular season and tournament titles secured, along with adding regular season crowns in both 2003 and 2013. Hall's squads also made two other MAC Tournament finals appearances and qualified for 15 MAC Tournaments in all.

KEEPING ON: Hall's 24 years in charge in Ypsilanti are the most in the league with Kent State's Rob Marinaro (22 years) the only other coach to guide a women's soccer program in the MAC in double-digit seasons. Additionally, when Hall took over head coaching duties in 1999, two current MAC programs had yet to play a match (Ball State started in 1999; Akron in 2001) and seven MAC schools had just completed one of their first four varsity seasons.

2022 ROSTER: The 2022 Eagles' roster features 25 student-athletes, 21 of which are first or second-year players (more below). Comprised mainly of regional talent, nearly half of the roster hails from Michigan (12), while Ohio and Illinois each are represented by three players and Pennsylvania with one. Internationally, five Canadians are on the roster this year along with one German player.

SECOND YEAR: The team will have 10 sophomores on the roster this year with eight of those individuals having seen playing time in 2021. Leading the charge are Jamie Lefebvre and Maddie O'Farrell, the two highest returning scorers for the team with four and three points, respectively. Two other sophomores also will look to build off their extended playing time from one year ago as Vittoria Greco and Sophia D'Ambra both ranked in the top seven in minutes played in 2021 with 1,393 (third) and 1,076 (#7) minutes played, respectively.

HELLO! MY NAME IS...: The Eagles welcomed 11 newcomers to the roster -- all freshmen -- including two goalkeepers, three defenders, three midfielders, and three forwards. The class includes: Sophia Baumann, Arielle Fink, Mary Grimes, Kevser Guendogdu, Emily Iafrate, Sofia Iori, Secora Johnson, Meghan Oliver, Cailyn Smith, Lily Spotak, and Hannah Thompson.

IT'S A TRAPP!: One of two new additions to the coaching roster for 2022 is Megan Miles, who will serve as an assistant coach. A 2016 graduate of Eastern and a four-year member of the soccer program (2012-15), the former Megan Trapp returns to campus following several coaching stints throughout the area, most recently with Detroit City FC Youth West. Miles also has served as an assistant coach with Lawrence Technical University, Concordia University of Ann Arbor, and Michigan Tigers FC. She began her coaching career as a graduate assistant at Concordia.

HE'S A KEEPER: Mike Sheehy also is new to the fold this year, but certainly not new to goalkeeping and coaching. With over 32 years of experience, the former collegiate standout at Oakland University has worked with numerous keepers at the collegiate, club, and youth levels throughout the state. Most recently, Sheehy worked with the men's goalkeepers at Schoolcraft College after working with the women's keepers at the University of Detroit Mercy. His time coaching club teams dates back to 1992 while his time working with high school teams dates back to 1990. All told, three of Sheehy's players at UDM earned Horizon League Goalkeeper of the Year honors during his time with the Titans.

FOLLOW ALONG: You can follow the Eagles on your favorite social media platforms, including Twitter (@EMUSoccer), Instagram (@EMUSoccer), and Facebook (Eastern Michigan Soccer).

UP NEXT: The Eagles return home next week with a pair of contest. Thursday, Sept. 1, Eastern will welcome Syracuse to town for a 5 p.m. start before closing the weekend Sunday, Sept. 4, with a visit from Dartmouth at 1 p.m. The location for each match will be announced next week as the turf installation on Scicluna Field continues.

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Players Mentioned

Sarah Ash

Sophia Baumann

Chloe Chatzis

Sophia D'Ambra

Arielle Fink

Kylie Frantz

Vittoria Greco

Mary Grimes

Kevser Guendogdu

Tiffanie Hollingsworth

Emily Iafrate

Sofia Iori

Secora Johnson

Jamie Lefebvre

Meagan Lukowski

Maddie O'Farrell

Meghan Oliver

Cailyn Smith

Lily Spotak

Hannah Thompson

Eastern Michigan Athletics