Eastern Michigan Athletics
Thursday, August 29
Ypsilanti, Mich.
4:30 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
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Purdue Fort Wayne
EMU Soccer Looks to Build on 3-0 Start Against PFW, Cincinnati
8/27/2024 4:52:00 PM | Soccer
Eagles host Mastodons Thursday at 4:30 p.m., travel to Big 12's Cincinnati
| Soccer vs. Purdue Fort Wayne | at Cincinnati | |
| Date | Thursday, Aug. 29 at 4:30 p.m. | Sunday, Sept. 1 at 1 p.m. |
| Venue | Scicluna Field | Ypsilanti, Mich. | Gettler Stadium | Cincinnati, Ohio |
| Preview Info | EMU Notes (PDF) |
| Watch | Watch at PFW | Watch at Cincinnati |
| Live Stats | Live Stats |
| @EMUSoccer | @EMUAthletics | |
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – Winners of three-straight matches to open the 2024 season, the Eastern Michigan University soccer team will battle Purdue Fort Wayne, Aug. 29, at Scicluna Field before heading to Cincinnati, Sept. 1.
ON THE AIR: The Eagles and Mastodons will air on ESPN+ at 4:30 p.m. from Scicluna Field. Tom Helmer has the call while the match at UC will also be aired on ESPN+. Furthermore, live stats for the match will be available at EMUEagles.com/livestats. EMU home soccer games are on ESPN+ in 2024 for the first time in program history.
QUICK KICKS:
»Sophomore Olivia Sipsock scored just eight seconds into the match against Youngstown State, Aug. 25, as she netted two goals in the 2-0 win. This was her first career brace and Eastern's first since current junior Hannah Thompson against Kent State, Oct. 6, 2022.
»Redshirt sophomore Ella Holland needed seven saves against YSU to record her third career clean sheet and second of the season.
»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.
THREE-, FOUR-, FIVE-STRAIGHT: Eastern is 3-0 for the first time since 2004. If EMU starts 4-0 or 5-0, it would be the Eagles' best start since 1999, the same year as Eastern's lone NCAA Tournament appearance in program history.
Overall, Eastern last won three-straight matches in the spring 2021 season, four-straight matches toward the end of the 2019 season, and five-straight matches in 2013.
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 POINT IN FIRST THREE MATCHES: Olivia Sipsock has at least one point in each of the Eagles' first three matches, the first Eagle to do so since 2012 as Angela Vultaggio did so in four-straight matches.
If Sipsock records at least one point against PFW and at UC, she would be the first Eagle to open the season with five-straight matches with at least one point since 1999 as Amanda Kulikowski had a five-match streak to start the season.
TWO GAME-WINNERS 85TH-MINUTE OR LATER: Eastern is the only known school in the country with multiple game-winning goals after the 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, is off to an similar start to his predecessor, Scott Hall, who won his first six matches as head coach in 1999.
In 1999, Hall led Eastern to the MAC Regular Season title, MAC Tournament title, and EMU's lone NCAA Tournament in program history.
ONE OF 22 SCHOOLS TO START 3-0: Eastern Michigan is one of 22 schools in the nation to start 3-0 or better in 2024. EMU is the only school in the MAC to do so. Eleven of the 22 schools are 4-0.
IN THE SERIES WITH PFW: The Eagles lead by a 4-1-1 margin in the all-time series with the Mastodons. PFW will come to Ypsilanti for the first time since 2008 as the Eagles won, 3-0, Aug. 29, 2008. The teams met most recently, Sept. 7, 2023, a 2-2 draw that featured Eastern goals by current sophomore Olivia Sipsock and current senior Maddie O'Farrell. Both goals were assisted by current sophomore Kate Robinson.
Eastern has scored multiple goals in all six all-time meetings between the squads. Both teams have scored in every contest except for when Eastern blanked PFW, 3-0, Aug. 29, 2008.
IN THE SERIES WITH UC: Sunday's contest will mark the first meeting between Eastern and Cincinnati.
EMU AGAINST THE BIG 12: Eastern is 0-2 all-time against the current Big 12, which includes losses against Colorado (L, 0-4 - Sept. 4, 2004) and Arizona State (L, 0-7 - Sept. 15, 2000).
Eastern's most recent "Power Five" win is at Oregon State (W, 2-1 - Sept. 11, 2016).
CLEAN SHEET SEEKER: With the 1-0 win over Oakland, Aug. 15, and 2-0 win over YSU, Aug. 29, the Eagles have recorded back-to-back shutouts at Scicluna Field for the first time since Sept. 8, 2017 against Youngstown State and Sept. 10, 2017 against Oakland, both 1-0 EMU wins. Those two 2017 matches are also the last time EMU has recorded back-to-back clean sheets, which Eastern is trying to do against PFW.
Eastern is seeking is also seeking three-straight clean sheets at Scicluna Field, which would mark the first time since 2008-09 (final three home matches of 2008, first of 2009).
If EMU were to shutout PFW, then the Eagles would be seeking three-straight clean sheets at Cincinnati for the first time since 2009.
PROTECTING HOME TURF: With the 1-0 shutout of Oakland, Aug. 15, EMU earned their 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.
With the 2-0 win over Youngstown State, Aug. 25, EMU has back-to-back home wins for the first time since spring 2021, beating Central Michigan, March 4, and Toledo, March 18. Eastern beat Buffalo, Oct. 27, 2019, in the final home match of 2019 before EMU returned to action in March of 2021 for its last three-match home winning streak.
If EMU tops PFW, it would mark the first time the Eagles have won three-straight matches at home in the same season since the 2018 season.
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. Clarke holds a 46-18-10 career mark and a 3-0-0 mark at EMU.
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 Division 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 Scott Hall served as the head coach of the Eastern program before retiring. 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 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, and Maddock are the Eagle newcomers that have seen time.
WHO'S GONE?: Rebecca Przybylo and Tiffanie Hollingsworth completed their eligibility with the 2023 season. Przybylo finished her career with 192 saves, good for eighth in program history, while Hollingsworth played in 69 career matches, drawing 48 starts as a defender.
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 in 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 (all seven from Ontario)
T3. South Florida 7 (six from Ontario)
THREE-OF-FOUR AT HOME TO START 2024: Eastern Michigan is scheduled to play three of its first four matches at home as the Eagles host Oakland, Aug. 15; Youngstown State, Aug. 25; and PFW, Aug. 29, only broken up by a road contest at UIC, Aug. 22. EMU has not played three of its first four contests at home since 2012 when the Eagles started the season with three-straight home matches, going 1-1-1 in the three matches.
NON-CONFERENCE CLOSE TO HOME IN 2024: Eastern Michigan has four road non-conference matches scheduled, all of which are outside of the state of Michigan. Despite that, EMU's longest non-conference trip is 251 miles to Chicago, Ill., (at UIC, Aug. 22; at Loyola Chicago, Sept. 15). Out of the furthest non-conference trip from each season, 251 miles is the shortest since 1999 when the Eagles went to Youngstown State (225 miles) in Scott Hall's first season at the helm. EMU's Sept. 1 trip to Cincinnati comes in at 249 miles while the trek to Valparaiso, Sept. 12, is 214 miles.
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.
NO POSTSEASON SINCE 2019: Eastern Michigan has not advanced to the MAC Tournament since falling in the championship match in 2019. The Eagles were 6-3 in the MAC in 2020, but the MAC Tournament was not played due to COVID-19. Prior to the current streak, the Eagles had never previously missed the MAC Tournament in back-to-back seasons.
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: Eastern Michigan has an 11-day break, resuming competition at Valparaiso, Sept. 12.
ON THE AIR: The Eagles and Mastodons will air on ESPN+ at 4:30 p.m. from Scicluna Field. Tom Helmer has the call while the match at UC will also be aired on ESPN+. Furthermore, live stats for the match will be available at EMUEagles.com/livestats. EMU home soccer games are on ESPN+ in 2024 for the first time in program history.
QUICK KICKS:
»Sophomore Olivia Sipsock scored just eight seconds into the match against Youngstown State, Aug. 25, as she netted two goals in the 2-0 win. This was her first career brace and Eastern's first since current junior Hannah Thompson against Kent State, Oct. 6, 2022.
»Redshirt sophomore Ella Holland needed seven saves against YSU to record her third career clean sheet and second of the season.
»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.
THREE-, FOUR-, FIVE-STRAIGHT: Eastern is 3-0 for the first time since 2004. If EMU starts 4-0 or 5-0, it would be the Eagles' best start since 1999, the same year as Eastern's lone NCAA Tournament appearance in program history.
Overall, Eastern last won three-straight matches in the spring 2021 season, four-straight matches toward the end of the 2019 season, and five-straight matches in 2013.
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 POINT IN FIRST THREE MATCHES: Olivia Sipsock has at least one point in each of the Eagles' first three matches, the first Eagle to do so since 2012 as Angela Vultaggio did so in four-straight matches.
If Sipsock records at least one point against PFW and at UC, she would be the first Eagle to open the season with five-straight matches with at least one point since 1999 as Amanda Kulikowski had a five-match streak to start the season.
TWO GAME-WINNERS 85TH-MINUTE OR LATER: Eastern is the only known school in the country with multiple game-winning goals after the 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, is off to an similar start to his predecessor, Scott Hall, who won his first six matches as head coach in 1999.
In 1999, Hall led Eastern to the MAC Regular Season title, MAC Tournament title, and EMU's lone NCAA Tournament in program history.
ONE OF 22 SCHOOLS TO START 3-0: Eastern Michigan is one of 22 schools in the nation to start 3-0 or better in 2024. EMU is the only school in the MAC to do so. Eleven of the 22 schools are 4-0.
IN THE SERIES WITH PFW: The Eagles lead by a 4-1-1 margin in the all-time series with the Mastodons. PFW will come to Ypsilanti for the first time since 2008 as the Eagles won, 3-0, Aug. 29, 2008. The teams met most recently, Sept. 7, 2023, a 2-2 draw that featured Eastern goals by current sophomore Olivia Sipsock and current senior Maddie O'Farrell. Both goals were assisted by current sophomore Kate Robinson.
Eastern has scored multiple goals in all six all-time meetings between the squads. Both teams have scored in every contest except for when Eastern blanked PFW, 3-0, Aug. 29, 2008.
IN THE SERIES WITH UC: Sunday's contest will mark the first meeting between Eastern and Cincinnati.
EMU AGAINST THE BIG 12: Eastern is 0-2 all-time against the current Big 12, which includes losses against Colorado (L, 0-4 - Sept. 4, 2004) and Arizona State (L, 0-7 - Sept. 15, 2000).
Eastern's most recent "Power Five" win is at Oregon State (W, 2-1 - Sept. 11, 2016).
CLEAN SHEET SEEKER: With the 1-0 win over Oakland, Aug. 15, and 2-0 win over YSU, Aug. 29, the Eagles have recorded back-to-back shutouts at Scicluna Field for the first time since Sept. 8, 2017 against Youngstown State and Sept. 10, 2017 against Oakland, both 1-0 EMU wins. Those two 2017 matches are also the last time EMU has recorded back-to-back clean sheets, which Eastern is trying to do against PFW.
Eastern is seeking is also seeking three-straight clean sheets at Scicluna Field, which would mark the first time since 2008-09 (final three home matches of 2008, first of 2009).
If EMU were to shutout PFW, then the Eagles would be seeking three-straight clean sheets at Cincinnati for the first time since 2009.
PROTECTING HOME TURF: With the 1-0 shutout of Oakland, Aug. 15, EMU earned their 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.
With the 2-0 win over Youngstown State, Aug. 25, EMU has back-to-back home wins for the first time since spring 2021, beating Central Michigan, March 4, and Toledo, March 18. Eastern beat Buffalo, Oct. 27, 2019, in the final home match of 2019 before EMU returned to action in March of 2021 for its last three-match home winning streak.
If EMU tops PFW, it would mark the first time the Eagles have won three-straight matches at home in the same season since the 2018 season.
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. Clarke holds a 46-18-10 career mark and a 3-0-0 mark at EMU.
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 Division 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 Scott Hall served as the head coach of the Eastern program before retiring. 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 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, and Maddock are the Eagle newcomers that have seen time.
WHO'S GONE?: Rebecca Przybylo and Tiffanie Hollingsworth completed their eligibility with the 2023 season. Przybylo finished her career with 192 saves, good for eighth in program history, while Hollingsworth played in 69 career matches, drawing 48 starts as a defender.
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 in 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 (all seven from Ontario)
T3. South Florida 7 (six from Ontario)
THREE-OF-FOUR AT HOME TO START 2024: Eastern Michigan is scheduled to play three of its first four matches at home as the Eagles host Oakland, Aug. 15; Youngstown State, Aug. 25; and PFW, Aug. 29, only broken up by a road contest at UIC, Aug. 22. EMU has not played three of its first four contests at home since 2012 when the Eagles started the season with three-straight home matches, going 1-1-1 in the three matches.
NON-CONFERENCE CLOSE TO HOME IN 2024: Eastern Michigan has four road non-conference matches scheduled, all of which are outside of the state of Michigan. Despite that, EMU's longest non-conference trip is 251 miles to Chicago, Ill., (at UIC, Aug. 22; at Loyola Chicago, Sept. 15). Out of the furthest non-conference trip from each season, 251 miles is the shortest since 1999 when the Eagles went to Youngstown State (225 miles) in Scott Hall's first season at the helm. EMU's Sept. 1 trip to Cincinnati comes in at 249 miles while the trek to Valparaiso, Sept. 12, is 214 miles.
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.
NO POSTSEASON SINCE 2019: Eastern Michigan has not advanced to the MAC Tournament since falling in the championship match in 2019. The Eagles were 6-3 in the MAC in 2020, but the MAC Tournament was not played due to COVID-19. Prior to the current streak, the Eagles had never previously missed the MAC Tournament in back-to-back seasons.
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: Eastern Michigan has an 11-day break, resuming competition at Valparaiso, Sept. 12.
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