EMU Soccer Opens Three-Game Homestand Against Buffalo and Akron

Soccer vs. Buffalo and Akron
Date	Friday, Sept. 29 - 4 p.m. \| Sunday, Oct. 1 - 1 p.m.
Location	Scicluna Field - Ypsilanti, Mich.
Game Notes	EMU Notes \| UB Notes \| UA Notes
Live Stats	vs. Buffalo \| v s. Kent State
Twitter	@EMUSoccer \| @EMUAthletics

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) - The Eastern Michigan University soccer team looks to snap a four-game losing skid when it returns to Scicluna Field this weekend Friday-Sunday, Sept. 29-Oct. 1, for a pair of Mid-American Conference cross-divisional matches. EMU kicks off the weekend with a 4 p.m. bout with the University at Buffalo, before hitting the pitch against the University of Akron Sunday, Oct. 1, at 1 p.m.
   Fans can follow the game via live stats through the links found on the soccer schedule page of EMUEagles.com. Additionally, the action on the pitch will be live tweeted from the team's account, @EMUSoccer.

EMU VERSUS THIS WEEKEND'S OPPONENTS: Eastern Michigan's record against this weekend's competition sits at 21-9-8 all-time, as the Eagles hold the lead in the series against both Buffalo and Akron.
   EMU and UB have squared off a total of 22 times since the first meeting during the 1995 season, with Eastern Michigan holding the lead by a 10-6-6 tally. The EMU-UB match marked the first game played in EMU women's soccer history. In the latest meeting between the Bulls and Eagles, the two squads played to a 1-1 draw through pouring rain. Michelle Rollins' notched EMU's lone score in the eighth minute, while Kaylin Williams made eight saves to pace the defensive effort.
   Eastern is 11-3-2 versus Akron since the teams first met back in 2001, and has won the last two meetings. Most recently, the Eagles bested the Zips 1-nil in the Rubber City, Oct. 23, 2016. The Green and White dominated the match, outshooting UA 15-5, but it was a ninth-minute goal by Ellie Tillar that proved to be the difference.

HAVE TO CASH IN: The Green and White rank third in the conference in shots, but have struggled to capitalize on opportunities. Eastern also ranks top in the conference in corners. Despite racking up more scoring chances than any team in the league, the Eagles are slotted 10th in goals per game.

ANOTHER NEW STARTING XI: Injuries have forced Head Coach Scott Hall to use a variety or starting lineups this season. In fact, through the first 11 games, Hall has used seven different lineups. Most recently however, Hall put the youth at the forefront, using a starting XI that featured six freshmen against Kent State. For the season, only five players have started every match; Kaylin Williams, Peyton Davis, Mikayla Cupp, Chanel Vani, and Madeline Olson.

LEAVING HER MARK: In her first two and a half seasons donning the Green and White, Kaylin Williams has established herself as one of the top keepers in Eastern Michigan history. Ranked inside the top-five in a number of statistical categories already, Williams is in the company of former EMU greats Monique Budani, Sarah Willis, Megan McCabe and many others. The Kansas City, Mo. native is currently slotted sixth in shutouts (8), seventh in saves (195), and eighth in goals against average (1.52), while her 547 shots faced rank third all-time.

OVERTIME HEARTBREAK: Eastern Michigan lost an overtime heartbreaker to Ohio, Sept. 22, in Athens. The Eagles led 1-nil after a 71st-minute strike by freshman Lindsey Shira, but the Bobcats scored in the 90th and 91st minutes to stun the Green and White, 2-1. The match marked EMU's third OT game of the season and 90th in program history. Since its first season back in 1995, EMU has compiled a 14-31-45 record in extra time.

TIME FOR #MACTION: Eastern Michigan is in its 20th season competing in the Mid-American Conference this weekend. The Eagles have compiled a 107-65-25 record in league play and are looking to claim their fourth MAC title, and first since 2013. Eastern was the 1999, 2003, and 2013 MAC Regular Season Champion, while EMU was the West Division Champion in 2013 and 2014.

THE ELDER STATESMAN: Entering his 19th season at the helm of the Eagles, Head Coach Scott Hall is the longest tenured women's soccer coach in the Mid-American Conference. Hall had been the second-longest tenured coach, but following Bobby Kramig's resignation after 34 years leading the Miami RedHawks, Aug. 4, Hall took over the top spot. Hall's three MAC Regular Season titles are tied atop the most in conference history.

ON HER WAY INTO THE 200-SAVE CLUB: Junior goalkeeper Kaylin Williams has become a mainstay in between the pipes for the Eagles since the start of the 2015 season. After amassing 64 saves as a true freshman due to Megan McCabe's nagging injuries, Williams bounced back with 81 saves in 2016 as EMU's starting keeper. So far this season, Williams' second as the Eagles' starter, she has racked up 50 stops, pushing her career total to 195. The Kansas City, Mo. native needs just five saves to become the program's seventh player to join the 200-save club.

HUPE GETS THE CALL FROM THE HALL: Jessica Hupe, a 2005 graduate, was a four-time letterwinner for the Eagles, while also earning a letter in basketball. A four-year starter under Scott Hall, Hupe was named to the MAC All-Tournament Team in 2001, earned First Team All-MAC honors in 2002 and 2004, as well as being named a Second Team All-MAC selection in 2001. During her time in Ypsilanti, Hupe led the Eagles to a 29-16-3 MAC record in her four years. She set the EMU single season scoring records for goals (17) and points (39). Hupe also holds the career records for goals (49), points (117), and is third all-time in career helpers (21).

HOME COOKING: Eastern Michigan has found consistent success when playing at home over the past 22 years, compiling a 105-54-28 overall record, good for a .636 win percentage, at Scicluna Field. This season, the Green and White are 2-1-1 on its home pitch.

ON THE HORIZON: The Eagles wrap up a three-game homestand with a rare Thursday afternoon match, Oct. 5, versus Bowling Green. The final of five straight matches against the East Division, the Eagles and Falcons are slated for a 4 p.m. kickoff.

EMU Soccer Opens Three-Game Homestand Against Buffalo and Akron

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Players Mentioned

Mikayla Cupp

Peyton Davis

Madeline Olson

Michelle Rollins

Lindsey Shira

Ellie Tillar

Chanel Vani

Kaylin Williams

Eastern Michigan Athletics