Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
Bowling Green
Soccer Opening MAC Play at BGSU, Home Against Central
9/15/2026 10:23:00 AM | Soccer
Thursday match slated for 7 p.m. start
| Soccer at Bowling Green, vs. Central Michigan | |
| Date | Thursday, Sept. 17 at 7 p.m. | Sunday, Sept. 20 at 1 p.m. |
| Venue | Cochrane Stadium | Bowling Green, Ohio | Scicluna Field | Ypsilanti, Mich. |
| Preview Info | EMU Notes (PDF) |
| Watch | Watch |
| Live Stats | Live Stats |
| @EMUSoccer | @EMUAthletics | |
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – Eastern Michigan University Women's Soccer opens Mid-American Conference play Thursday, Sept. 17, traveling to Bowling Green, Ohio, for a 7 p.m. matchup against Bowling Green State University at a series that is knotted at 15-15-4 across 34 all-time meetings.
ON THE AIR: Live stats for Thursday's match will be available at EMUEagles.com.
» Eastern Michigan enters the MAC opener unbeaten in its last four matches (1-0-3), recording clean sheets in three of those four contests.
» The Eagles have posted four shutouts through six games this season, led by goalkeeper Ella Holland, who carries a 0.60 goals-against average.
» Holland and newcomer Reese Carpenter were both named MAC Players of the Week on Sept. 1 — Holland as Goalkeeper of the Week and Carpenter as Defensive Player of the Week.
» Newcomer Christie Fransen leads Eastern with two goals and four points this season — and she arrives at Bowling Green as a transfer from the Falcons themselves.
» The all-time series between Eastern Michigan and Bowling Green is exactly even at 15-15-4 across 34 meetings, with the most recent result a 1-1 draw on Oct. 5, 2025.
» Bowling Green enters conference play 4-1-1 overall and riding a two-game winning streak.
SERIES HISTORY: The all-time series between Eastern Michigan and Bowling Green University is perfectly balanced at 15-15-4 across 34 meetings dating to Sept. 28, 1997. The most recent contest, played Oct. 5, 2025, at Scicluna Field in Ypsilanti, ended in a 1-1 draw. Olivia Sipsock gave the Eagles the lead with a goal at the 24:09 mark before Bowling Green's Lizzie Bultynck equalized at 43:26. Thursday's match is the first time the two programs have met in Bowling Green since that series.
EAGLE FORM HEADING IN: Eastern enters the MAC opener in strong defensive shape, going 1-0-3 over its last four matches. The Eagles drew 0-0 at No. 3 Michigan State Aug. 27 and at Robert Morris Aug. 30 before rallying from a halftime deficit to beat Southern Indiana 3-1 Sept. 6. Most recently, Eastern earned a 0-0 draw at Milwaukee Sept. 10, with Holland turning aside a penalty kick among her six saves on the night.
DEFENSIVE ANCHOR: Holland has been the backbone of Eastern's defensive success this season. The returner has recorded three shutouts in 2026 and carries a 0.60 goals-against average through six matches. Her penalty kick save at Milwaukee was among the defining moments of the Eagles' recent unbeaten run, and her MAC Goalkeeper of the Week honor Sept. 1 recognized a stretch that included back-to-back clean sheets against a ranked opponent and a road opponent.
CARPENTER ANCHORS THE BACKLINE: Newcomer Reese Carpenter, who transferred from Creighton, was named MAC Defensive Player of the Week Sept. 1 after contributing to consecutive shutouts against No. 3 Michigan State and Robert Morris. Her arrival has bolstered a backline that has held opponents to three goals in six games.
FRANSEN FACES FORMER TEAM: Newcomer Christie Fransen leads Eastern Michigan with two goals and four points this season after transferring from Bowling Green. She opened her account in the season opener against Duquesne Aug. 12 and converted a penalty kick in the 63rd minute in the comeback win over Southern Indiana Sept. 6. Thursday marks her return to Bowling Green as an Eagle.
OFFENSIVE CONTRIBUTORS: Returner Rosalie Takacsy paces Eastern with two assists this season. Newcomer Lauren Yaquinto scored her first career goal in the 81st minute against Southern Indiana, and returner Tayla Maddock added an 88th-minute insurance goal in the same match. Newcomer Avery Hilvert also recorded her first career assist in that contest.
THE FALCONS: Bowling Green State University enters conference play 4-1-1 overall and ranked second in the MAC standings. The Falcons have posted wins over Robert Morris, Oakland, Kentucky and Detroit Mercy, with their lone loss coming against Michigan. Bowling Green arrives on a two-game winning streak after a 2-1 victory at Kentucky Sept. 6 and a 2-0 home win over Detroit Mercy Sept. 10. Through six games, the Falcons have recorded seven goals and 81 shots.
FALCONS TO WATCH: Defender Taylor Green was named the MAC Defensive Player of the Week for Week 2 of the 2026 season, and goalkeeper Payton O'Malley earned MAC Goalkeeper of the Week honors for the same week. Lizzie Bultynck, who scored Bowling Green's equalizer in the 1-1 draw against Eastern Michigan last October, is an established threat in the Falcons' attack.
FOLLOW ALONG: Follow Eastern Michigan Soccer on social media for live updates and behind-the-scenes content. Find the Eagles on Twitter at @EMUSoccer, on Instagram at @EMUSoccer, and on Facebook at Eastern Michigan Soccer.
UP NEXT: Eastern returns home Sunday, Sept. 20, for its first MAC home match of the season against Central Michigan University at Scicluna Field in Ypsilanti, Mich. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m., with the match streaming on ESPN+.
