Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
Northern Illinois
Eagles Top Huskies 2-0 To Advance in MAC Tourney
11/2/2008 4:11:49 PM | Soccer
EMU moves on to face Central Michigan Nov. 7 in Toledo, Ohio
YPSILANTI, Mich. – After failing to score in the first match-up of the season against Northern Illinois, the Eastern Michigan University soccer team was able to find the back of the net twice to defeat the Huskies, 2-0, in the first round of the Mid-American Conference Tournament, Sunday, Nov. 2 at Scicluna Field. The No. 3 Eagles now move on to face the No. 2 Central Michigan Chippewas in semifinal action slated for Friday, Nov. 7.
EMU moves to 12-4-5 on the year, while the Huskies end the 2008 season with a 9-6-5 record. The win also marks the first time since the 2001 season the Eagles have won a MAC tourney game. The tournament now shifts to the University of Toledo for the semifinal and final rounds, as the top-seeded Rockets won their opening round match, 1-0, against Miami University.
As the first half wore on, the wind picked up, leading to the first goal of the afternoon for the Eagles. Freshman Vanessa Atanasoski (Sterling Heights, Mich.-Stevenson) took advantage of the wind at her back, firing from about 30 yards out and finding the top left of the net, giving the Eagles a 1-0 lead in the 33rd minute. The teams hit the break with EMU on top, 1-0.
In the second half, a steady rain started to fall, turning the game into a defensive battle. Neither team could get into an offensive groove, keeping the score at 1-0 for most of the second half. The Eagles were able to tack on an insurance goal off a Stephanie Janssens’ (Novi, Mich.-Novi) corner kick, as Katie Lozar (Broadview Heights, Ohio-Brecksville) headed the ball past the NIU keeper, pushing the Eagle lead to 2-0.
The Huskies had two corner kick opportunities following that goal but were unable to score on either to give the Eagles their ninth blanking of the season. EMU goalie Mona Budani (Whitby, Ont.-Sinclair Secondary) made six saves in the backstop, chalking up her fourth shutout of the season.
EMU head coach Scott Hall and the Eagles now move on to the semifinals of the MAC Tournament where they will play Central Michigan University. EMU and CMU just played each other to wrap up the regular season (Oct. 30), battling to a 2-2 tie. The in-state rivals will square off Friday, Nov. 7 in Toledo. Game time is set for 11 a.m.
