Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
Miami
Eastern Soccer Hosting Miami Sunday
10/4/2024 10:40:00 AM | Soccer
Eagles playing RedHawks in critical MAC match at 1 p.m.
| Soccer vs. Miami | |
| Date | Sunday, Oct. 6 at 1 p.m. |
| Venue | Scicluna Field | Ypsilanti, Mich. |
| Preview Info | EMU Notes (PDF) |
| Watch | Watch vs. Miami |
| Live Stats | Live Stats |
| @EMUSoccer | @EMUAthletics | |
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University soccer team will look to build on its 3-0-2 home record against Miami University Sunday, Oct. 6, as the Eagles open the month of October at Scicluna Field.
ON THE AIR: The Eagles and RedHawks will air on ESPN+ from Scicluna Field with Tom Helmer on the call. Furthermore, live stats for the match will be available at EMUEagles.com/livestats.
QUICK KICKS:
» After EMU started 4-0 for the first time since 1999, the same year as Eastern's lone NCAA Tournament appearance in program history, the Eagles have gone 0-4-3 in their last seven matches.
» The Eagles tallied back-to-back scoreless draws for the time in program history against Toledo, Sept. 26, and at Ball State, Sept. 29, in a rain-soaked match.
» Sophomore Olivia Sipsock has four goals on the season, one shy of her mark from the 2023 season, while redshirt sophomore Ella Holland and the Eagles have recorded five clean sheets, the most by EMU since 2014.
» Head Coach Taylor Clarke is in his first season at the helm of the Eagles. Joining Clarke on staff are Associate Head Coach Matt Hinds and Assistant Coach Mary Carlson.
» Clarke, the third head coach in program history, replaced Scott Hall, who retired at the end of the 2023 season. Hall amassed a 210-215-67 record with MAC championships in 1999, 2003, and 2013. Hall, who played on the EMU men's team as a student, was a part of every EMU women's match in history as he served as an assistant coach from 1995-1999 before taking over as the head coach following the tragic death of Paul Scicluna.
» EMU returns sophomores Kate Robinson and Olivia Sipsock, who both earned Freshman All-MAC honors in 2023.
PINK MATCH: Eastern Michigan volleyball is joining forces with The-Side-Out Campaign's Dig Pink Initiative for Sunday's match against Miami. Your support will fuel a ground-breaking research program focused on patients battling metastatic breast cancer - the most challenging form of the disease and, tragically, the area that receives the least research funding. Fans can donate to the Dig Pink Initiative here. Eastern Michigan athletics marketing will be giving away pink scrunchies.
3-0-2 START AT HOME: After three-straight wins at home to open the 2024 home slate, EMU is 3-0-2 at Scicluna Field, most recently earning one point against Toledo, Sept. 26.
EMU is undefeated at home through five matches for the first time since the 2014 team started with five wins in a row at Scicluna Field.
Against Miami, Oct. 6, the Eagles are looking to go unbeaten on their home turf through six matches for the first time since the 1999 team went an impressive 10-0-1 at home.
With the 1-0 shutout of Oakland, Aug. 15, EMU earned its first victory at Scicluna Field since topping Morehead State by a 2-1 scoreline, Sept. 5, 2021, as Eastern snapped a 22-match home streak since its last victory at Scicluna Field. Eastern had not secured a home shutout since beating Miami, 3-0, Oct. 18, 2018, breaking a stretch of 39 home contests.
To start the home schedule, the Eagles recorded three-straight shutouts at Scicluna Field for the first time since 2008-09, when Eastern had a clean sheet in its final three home matches of 2008 and first home match of 2009.
FOUR-STRAIGHT WINS TO START 2024: Eastern started 4-0 for the first time since 1999, the same year as Eastern's lone NCAA Tournament appearance in program history.
FIVE CLEAN SHEETS THROUGH 11 MATCHES: Eastern has five clean sheets through 11 matches for the first time since 2012. The five clean sheets are the most for EMU in a single season since 2014 (eight).
A sixth clean sheet against Miami would mark the first time the Eagles have recorded six shutouts in the season's first 12 matches since 2009.
BACK-TO-BACK CLEAN SHEETS IN THE MAC: Eastern has back-to-back clean sheets after blanking Toledo, Sept. 26, and Ball State, Sept. 29, which marks the first time EMU has recorded back-to-back shutouts in MAC play since 2017 (WMU and NIU in final two home matches). Eastern is seeking three-straights shutouts for the first time since 2009 (Ohio, Buffalo, and Kent State).
SEEKING FIRST OCTOBER HOME WIN SINCE 2019: The Eagles are seeking their first win at Scicluna Field in the month of October since Oct. 27, 2019, a 2-1 win over Buffalo. In the 13 home October matches after that win, EMU is 0-11-2 in such matches. Eastern's last home clean sheet in October came against Miami, Oct. 18, 2018, a 3-0 win for EMU (20 October home matches without a clean sheet).
SCORELESS IN BACK-TO-BACK MATCHES: EMU, which has been shutout in back-to-back matches twice in the 2024 season, has not been shutout in three-straight matches since the first three matches of the 2021 season (vs. Illinois State, at Michigan State, at Colgate).
The Eagles have gone scoreless in back-to-back MAC contests for the first time since Oct. 2021 (at Akron, at BGSU). the streak to three matches for the first time since 2010 (final three matches of the season, including MAC Tournament contest). EMU has never been shutout in three-straight MAC regular season contests.
IN THE SERIES WITH MIAMI: The Eagles trail by a 11-16-3 margin in the all-time series with the RedHawks. The teams met most recently, Oct. 26, 2023, a 4-0 loss for Eastern in Ypsilanti that closed the 2023 season.
Eastern is 1-6-1 in its last eight matches against the RedHawks with its last win coming Oct. 18, 2018.
The Eagles have conceded multiple goals to the RedHawks in each of the last four matches and six of the last seven meetings. EMU had scored in six-straight matches against Miami before being shutout last season.
INCREASED ROLES FOR VAN EUWEN, TAKACSY IN 2024: Sophomore outside backs Sarah Van Euwen and Rosalie Takacsy have seen vastly increased roles in the 2024 season when compared to the 2023 campaign. Both players have started all 11 matches in 2024 after each started two matches in 2023.
Furthermore, both players have already eclipsed their 2023 minutes totals as they lead the Eastern field players in minutes played so far this season (Van Euwen 965 in 2024, 344 in 2023; Takacsy 904 in 2024, 807 in 2023), gaining reputations as two of the MAC's best defenders.
EVERY MINUTE IN GOAL FOR HOLLAND: Redshirt sophomore Ella Holland has played every minute in goal through 11 matches, the first Eagle to play every minute in the first 11 matches since defender Sarah Ash never left the pitch through the first 12 matches of the 2021 season. Kaylin Williams was the last EMU goalkeeper to play every minute through 11 matches as she was credited with every minute played in goal in 2016. Her 44 saves rank second in the MAC.
MAC saves leaders:
Player Saves School
1. Allison LaPoint 66 Central Michigan
2. Ella Holland 45 Eastern Michigan
3. Agnes Stenlund 43 Toledo
FIRST CAREER GOAL FOR SOPHIA BAUMANN: Redshirt sophomore Sophia Baumann scored her first career goal against Central Michigan, Sept. 19. A deep pass from junior Mary Grimes found the foot of Baumann, who made a couple of strong dribbles to the left, and fired a left-footed strike past the CMU keeper from 10 yards out.
FIRST ASSIST OF THE YEAR FOR KATE ROBINSON Sophomore Kate Robinson tallied her first assist of the 2024 campaign against CMU, Sept. 19, finding sophomore Olivia Sipsock for a 12th-minute goal. Robinson had seven assists in 2023, earning MAC Freshman of the Year honors.
OLIVIA SIPSOCK, THE SCICLUNA SNIPER: Olivia Sipsock has four goals in 2024, three of which have come at Scicluna Field. If she is able to notch a fourth goal on home turf, she would be the first Eagle with four goals at home in one season since Sabrina McNeill in the spring of 2021. Lindsey Shira (2019) was the last Eagle to score five goals at home in one season while Kristin Hullibarger (2018) was the last to net six (and seven) at Scicluna Field.
OLIVIA SIPSOCK GOAL EIGHT SECONDS IN: Olivia Sipsock scored just eight seconds into the match against Youngstown State, Aug. 25, the fastest goal in EMU history and the fastest known goal in the NCAA this season.
OLIVIA SIPSOCK BRACE VS. YOUNGSTOWN STATE: Olivia Sipsock scored twice against Youngstown State, Aug. 25, marking her first career brace. Sipsock netted a goal just eight seconds into the match before scoring a second time exactly 66 minutes of game time later. This marks Eastern's first brace since current junior Hannah Thompson against Kent State, Oct. 6, 2022.
If Sipsock tallies two goals in another match this season, she would be the first Eagle to record multiple braces in a season since Sabrina McNeill had back-to-back games with two goals in the spring of 2021 and the first to do so twice at Scicluna Field in the same season since Angela Vultaggio in 2013.
OLIVIA SIPSOCK POINT IN FIRST FOUR MATCHES: Olivia Sipsock had at least one point in each of the Eagles' first four matches, the first Eagle to do so since 2012 (Angela Vultaggio).
MAC AT HOME IN NON-CONFERENCE: Helped by Eastern's 3-0 mark, the MAC finished its non-conference home slate with a remarkable combined record of 33-3-4. Nine teams went undefeated (five without a draw) and no team suffered more than one loss in home non-conference action in 2024.
TWO GAME-WINNERS 85TH-MINUTE OR LATER: Sophomore Cameryn Susey scored the match's lone goal at the 84:55 mark vs. Oakland, Aug. 15, while sophomore Sarah Van Euwen scored her first career goal at the 88:05 mark to break a 2-2 draw at UIC, Aug. 22.
CLARKE + HALL SIMILAR STARTS: A quarter century later, Head Coach Taylor Clarke, the third head coach in program history, had a similar start to his predecessor, Scott Hall, who won his first six matches as head coach in 1999. Clarke won his first four matches.
In 1999, Hall led Eastern to the MAC Regular Season title, MAC Tournament title, and EMU's lone NCAA Tournament in program history.
KATE ROBINSON AND OLIVIA SIPSOCK FRESHMEN PHENOMS IN 2023: Then-freshmen Kate Robinson and Olivia Sipsock combined for 25 points in 2023, making up for more than half of the team's 48 points. Robinson was MAC Freshman of the Year and led the MAC in assists while her 13 points topped MAC freshmen marks. Sipsock's 12 points were tied for the second-highest mark in the MAC in 2023. Eastern Michigan is one of four schools to have two players named Freshman All-MAC in 2023. EMU had multiple players on the Freshman All-MAC team for the first time since 2011 (Emily Dzik, Bianca Rossi, and Angela Vultaggio).
Robinson and Sipsock are the top returning freshmen in terms of total points and points/match.
2023 MAC Freshmen Rankings By Points/Match:
Player Per Match Total Points School
1. Kate Robinson 0.68 13 (3g/7a) Eastern Michigan
2. Olivia Sipsock 0.63 12 (5g/2a) Eastern Michigan
3. Josie Morgan 0.57 12 (5g/2a) Kent State
KATE ROBINSON MAC ASSISTS LEADER IN 2023: Freshman Kate Robinson led the MAC with seven assists, the most by an Eagle since Angela Vultaggio (8), Stephanie Clarke (7), and Martha Stevens (7) all tallied at least seven assists in 2013. Robinson is the first EMU freshman in 16 years and the third freshman in program history to record at least seven assists in a season, joining Jodi Coyle (8, 1997) and Stephanie Janssens (8, 2007).
2023 MAC Assists Leaders:
Player Assists School
1. Kate Robinson 7 Eastern Michigan
2. Delaney Caldwell 6 Kent State
Jenna Blackburn 6 Kent State
Jen Blitchok 6 Bowling Green
Alisa Arthur 6 Kent State
HEAD COACH TAYLOR CLARKE: Taylor Clarke is in his first season at the helm of Eastern Michigan. Clarke is just the third head coach in program history (since 1995). Clarke was previously at Division III's Carroll University with additional stops at the MAC's Bowling Green State (Associate Head Coach, 2021-23), Division II's Ashland (Head Coach, 2018-21; Assistant Coach, 2014-16), Division III's Calvin College (Assistant Coach, 2017-18), and UNC-Wilmington (Assistant Coach, 2016-17). Clarke played his college soccer at Division II Saginaw Valley State, captaining the 2012 squad to the Division II National Championship match.
ASSOCIATE HEAD COACH MATT HINDS: Matt Hinds was hired as the team's associate head coach. Hinds spent the last three seasons as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at his alma mater Division III Calvin College. Hinds, an All-American at Calvin 2017, overlapped with Clarke at Calvin as Clarke was an assistant coach for the Knights at the time. The pair also overlapped at Division II Ashland as Hinds spent one year and a half on staff for the Eagles. Hinds started his coaching journey at Divsion II Malone in 2019.
ASSISTANT COACH MARY CARLSON: Mary Carlson was hired as the team's assistant coach. Carlson, who was a four-year starter at the MAC's Central Michigan, was Girls Associate Head Coach at Grace Christian Academy in Franklin, Tenn. She has also been a middle school mathematics teacher at the school for four years while taking on a Boys Assistant Soccer Coach role and Middle School Athletics Assistant role in 2022.
A TRIBUTE TO FORMER HEAD COACH SCOTT HALL: The 2023 season marked the 25th year Scott Hall served as the head coach of the Eastern program before retiring following the conclusion of the 2023 campaign. A former student-athlete at EMU (1990-94) and a four-year assistant coach (1995-98), Hall was part of the first 565 matches the Eagles played in its existence, including 483 as the head coach. Sporting a record of 210-215-67, Hall guided the Eagles to 15 MAC Tournament appearances with one tournament title secured in three championship match appearances. Winners of three MAC regular season crowns (1999, 2003, and 2013), the three-time MAC Coach of the Year also helped the Eagles reach the 1999 NCAA Tournament, the first and only national tournament appearance in program history.
WHO'S BACK?: The entire eligible roster stuck with the team through the 2024 spring slate, despite the coaching change. Ultimately, heading into the season's first match, only reserve keeper Kevser Guendogdu left the program as she went back to her home country of Germany, leaving the Eagles with a roster of 36 players.
Eastern Michigan ranks fourth in the nation in returning players from 2023:
1. Cal Poly - 30
T2. Boise State - 29
T2. Wake Forest - 29
T4. Eastern Michigan - 27
T4. Manhattan - 27
Furthermore, EMU's 27 returners with no collegiate transfers tops McNeese State's mark of 22 returners without a transfer out.
WHO'S NEW?: Eastern Michigan added a trio of transfers (Ela Kisin, Long Island; Lucia Johnson, Akron; Scarlett Thomas, Missouri) to go with six freshmen (Ellery Boeving, Howell, Mich.; Bella Bowen, Peterborough, Ontario; Claire Gonyea, Trenton, Mich.; Emily Kolodin, Grand Blanc, Mich.; Mackenzie Loomis, St. Charles, Ill.; and Tayla Maddock, Camlachie, Ontario).
Thomas, Johnson, Maddock, and Kolodin are the Eagle newcomers that have seen time.
CANADIAN CONNECTION: Eastern Michigan has seven student-athletes from Canada, all of which are from Ontario.
EMU ranks tied for the third in the nation in student-athletes from Canada and second in the nation in student-athletes from Ontario:
1. Maine 13 (four from Ontario)
2. Niagara 8 (all eight from Ontario)
T3. Eastern Michigan 7 (all seven from Ontario)
T3. South Florida 7 (six from Ontario)
TWO WITH FIVE GOALS IN 2023: Then-junior Meagan Lukowski and then-freshman Olivia Sipsock each had five goals in 2023, marking the first time the Eagles have had multiple players with five or more goals in a season since 2019 when Amanda Cripps (7), Kristin Hullibarger (7), Sabrina McNeill (7), and Lindsey Shira (6) all scored at least five goals.
SIX DRAWS IN 2023: The Eagles had six draws in 2023, equaling 2009's program record. Eastern Michigan had four-straight draws in home matches for the first time in program history.
