Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
5-1-4, 3-0-1
Ball State
3-5-3, 0-2-2
| Team | 1 | 2 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Mich. | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Ball St. | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Soccer Earns Fifth-Straight Clean Sheet as Bauer's Goal Lifts EMU Over Ball State
10/1/2026 7:30:00 PM | Soccer
Eastern is 3-0-1 in MAC play
Taylor Clarke Interview
MUNCIE, Ind. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University soccer team defeated Ball State University, 1-0, at Briner Sports Complex Thursday, Oct. 1, as Annalyse Bauer scored the first goal of her career to lift EMU to its fifth consecutive shutout.
Eastern held Ball State to just two shots — none on goal — to extend a program-record clean sheet streak and improve to 3-0-1 in MAC play, the program's best conference start since the 2013 MAC Championship season.
EMU is tied with UMass at the top of the conference standings.
How It Happened
Bauer (Latrobe, Pa./Greater Latrobe) broke the deadlock in the 43rd minute, finishing off an assist from Rosalie Takacsy (Orchard Park, N.Y./Orchard Park) to give Eastern a 1-0 lead it would not relinquish. The goal was the first of Bauer's career at Eastern Michigan.
The Eagles carried an 8-2 advantage in shots into the final whistle, with Bauer leading the team with two shots and two shots on goal in 54 minutes of action. Kaylee Synk (North Olmsted, Ohio/Saint Joseph Academy) and Olivia Sipsock (Medina, Ohio/Medina) each added two shots of their own, keeping pressure on Ball State goalkeeper Kate Pallante throughout.
Pallante made four saves to keep the Cardinals within striking distance, including a stop on Synk in the 52nd minute and a top-right save on Sipsock in the 87th minute. Ella Holland (Dunwoody, Ga./Dunwoody/Samford), meanwhile, was not called upon to make a single save — Ball State did not register a shot on goal — as the EMU defense controlled the match from start to finish.
Game Notes
» Eastern improved to 5-1-4 overall (3-0-1 MAC) while Ball State fell to 3-6-3 overall (0-3-2 MAC).
» Eastern held an 8-2 advantage in shots and a 5-2 margin in corner kicks. Ball State did not register a shot on goal.
» The victory extended EMU's program-record consecutive shutout streak to five matches, dating to Sept. 10.
» Holland played the full 90 minutes and earned her seventh shutout of the 2026 season and 22nd of her career at Eastern Michigan — third all-time in program history. She did not face a single shot on goal.
» Christie Fransen (Wooster, Ohio/Wooster/Bowling Green) entered the match as EMU's leading scorer with four goals, one assist and nine points in nine games, including a perfect 3-for-3 mark on penalty kicks. She earned back-to-back MAC Defensive Player of the Week honors, recognized for Sept. 1 and Sept. 27.
» Annalyse Bauer's goal in the 43rd minute was the first of her career.
» EMU is 3-0-4 in its last seven matches and has not lost since Aug. 16.
Historical Notes
» EMU's five consecutive shutouts are the longest clean sheet streak in program history across all 32 seasons (1995–2026).
» Eastern's 3-0-1 MAC record is the program's best conference start since the 2013 season, when the Eagles went on to win the MAC Championship.
» Ella Holland's 22nd career shutout at Eastern Michigan moved her to third all-time in program history. She has now played 4,140 consecutive minutes — a program record — surpassing the previous mark of 3,690 minutes set by Erin Norton from 1996–98.
Up Next
Eastern returns home to host Kent State University Sunday, Oct. 4, at 1 p.m. in Ypsilanti, Mich.
Follow Us
For the latest news and information on EMU women's soccer, visit EMUEagles.com and follow the program on social media.
Players Mentioned
Team Stats
Annalyse Bauer (1)
Assisted By: Rosalie Takacsy
GOAL by EMU Bauer, Annalyse Assist by Takacsy, Rosalie.
42:22