Eastern Michigan Athletics
Friday, August 17
Scicluna Field
5 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
vs
Pittsburgh
Photo by: EMU Athletics/Randy Mascharka
Soccer Opens Regular Season with Pair of Home Matches
8/15/2012 4:49:00 PM | Soccer
EMU hosts Pittsburgh Friday and Oakland Sunday
Complete Release (.pdf)
Coach Hall Audio Interview
EMU OPENS 2012 WITH THREE HOME MATCHES: The Eastern Michigan University women's soccer team kicks off its 18th season with a trio of home games at Scicluna Field beginning with a Friday, Aug. 17, matchup against the University of Pittsburgh at 5 p.m. The Eagles then bring in Oakland University, Aug. 19, and Butler University, Aug. 26. In all, the 2012 slate features 10 home games including five Mid-American Conference tilts.
INSTANT REWIND: Women's soccer has been part of the Eastern Michigan sports tradition since 1995, when Head Coach Paul Scicluna led a brand-new Eagles team to a 4-9 record. Scicluna coached the team until the 1998 season and complied a four-year record of 38-32-2 which included a 13-7-1 showing in 1998.
An assistant on Scicluna's staff since the beginning, Scott Hall took over head coaching duties in 1999. That season he coached the Eagles to their first Mid-American Conference title. EMU has made the MAC Tournament 11 times under Hall and has a record of 128-101-38.
THE WILD WEST: Eastern Michigan will once again compete for a division title in the hostile MAC West. The division includes last season's top two regular season teams the University of Toledo and Central Michigan University as well as the 2011 MAC Tournament Champion (UT) and tournament runner-up Western Michigan University.
The Eagles were tabbed to place fifth in the MAC West according to the annual coaches preseason poll released by the conference office Wednesday, Aug. 15.
TAKING THE FIRST STEP: Unlike last season, EMU soccer fans do not have to wait long to see their Eagles take the field in Ypsilanti. In 2011, the Green and White did not play its first home regular season game until Sept. 16 against Illinois State University.
On Friday, Aug. 17, the Eagles take on Pitt for the third time in history and the second time in as many seasons. Last year, the two squads battled to a 2-2 tie with Cara Cutaia notching the equalizer with 10 seconds remaining in regulation.
Then Sunday, Aug. 19, 14th-year Head Coach Scott Hall's team goes in search of some revenge against an Oakland squad which handed EMU a 1-0 setback last year. A win against the Grizzlies would be just the second by an EMU team in 11 tries.
EAGLES DRAW REDBIRDS IN TEST MATCH: The Eagles officially got the 2012-13 EMU sports slate underway Sunday afternoon, Aug. 12, with an exhibition match against Illinois State University in Normal, Ill. The two teams played to a 1-1 draw with reigning MAC Newcomer of the Year Angela Vultaggio scoring the goal for the Eagles. Redshirt freshman transfer Jenna O'Dell and true freshman Megan McCabe split time in goal in the lone test match of the year.
IT'S HER TEAM: Not only is she a senior on this year's squad, but Jessica Thomas is the only fourth-year player on the 2012 Eagles. Thomas takes the place of Julie Kaim as captain of the defense and looks to shore up an EMU back unit which was 10th in the MAC in goals against last season. Junior midfielders Cara Cutaia and Megan Pedro will serve as the other captains this season.
LIGHTNING AND THUNDER: The 2011 season proved to be a turbulent endeavor for the EMU offense. But by season's end, the duo of All-MAC Freshman Team selections Bianca Rossi and Angela Vultaggio established itself as one of the most dangerous in the conference. Vultaggio and Rossi finished the year first and second on the team in scoring with 13 and nine points, respectively. Vultaggio scored six goals including four in the final six games of the year and Rossi's first-career tally snapped a five-game streak in which EMU was held off the scoreboard.
THEY'RE BACK: A pair of award-winning EMU players return to the team for the 2012 season. Junior forward Stephanie Clarke is back after garnering CoSIDA third-team Academic All-District honors and sophomore defender Emily Dzik nabbed and All-MAC Freshman Team nomination. Clarke has 19 points (five goals, nine assists) in two seasons on Eastern Michigan's attacking unit. Dzik led the way in scoring among EMU backfielders in 2011 with a pair of goals and an assist.
SENIOR DAY SET FOR OCT. 14: Jessica Thomas, the lone senior on the 2012 team, will be honored in a ceremony prior to the EMU vs. Kent State University match Sunday, Oct. 14, at Scicluna Field.
STAY CURRENT WITH EMU SOCCER ALL SEASON LONG: EMUEagles.com is your one-stop spot for all the latest information on the EMU soccer program. Check out interviews with players and coaches, read game recaps and view the most recent statistics for your favorite EMU players.
Coach Hall Audio Interview
EMU OPENS 2012 WITH THREE HOME MATCHES: The Eastern Michigan University women's soccer team kicks off its 18th season with a trio of home games at Scicluna Field beginning with a Friday, Aug. 17, matchup against the University of Pittsburgh at 5 p.m. The Eagles then bring in Oakland University, Aug. 19, and Butler University, Aug. 26. In all, the 2012 slate features 10 home games including five Mid-American Conference tilts.
INSTANT REWIND: Women's soccer has been part of the Eastern Michigan sports tradition since 1995, when Head Coach Paul Scicluna led a brand-new Eagles team to a 4-9 record. Scicluna coached the team until the 1998 season and complied a four-year record of 38-32-2 which included a 13-7-1 showing in 1998.
An assistant on Scicluna's staff since the beginning, Scott Hall took over head coaching duties in 1999. That season he coached the Eagles to their first Mid-American Conference title. EMU has made the MAC Tournament 11 times under Hall and has a record of 128-101-38.
THE WILD WEST: Eastern Michigan will once again compete for a division title in the hostile MAC West. The division includes last season's top two regular season teams the University of Toledo and Central Michigan University as well as the 2011 MAC Tournament Champion (UT) and tournament runner-up Western Michigan University.
The Eagles were tabbed to place fifth in the MAC West according to the annual coaches preseason poll released by the conference office Wednesday, Aug. 15.
TAKING THE FIRST STEP: Unlike last season, EMU soccer fans do not have to wait long to see their Eagles take the field in Ypsilanti. In 2011, the Green and White did not play its first home regular season game until Sept. 16 against Illinois State University.
On Friday, Aug. 17, the Eagles take on Pitt for the third time in history and the second time in as many seasons. Last year, the two squads battled to a 2-2 tie with Cara Cutaia notching the equalizer with 10 seconds remaining in regulation.
Then Sunday, Aug. 19, 14th-year Head Coach Scott Hall's team goes in search of some revenge against an Oakland squad which handed EMU a 1-0 setback last year. A win against the Grizzlies would be just the second by an EMU team in 11 tries.
EAGLES DRAW REDBIRDS IN TEST MATCH: The Eagles officially got the 2012-13 EMU sports slate underway Sunday afternoon, Aug. 12, with an exhibition match against Illinois State University in Normal, Ill. The two teams played to a 1-1 draw with reigning MAC Newcomer of the Year Angela Vultaggio scoring the goal for the Eagles. Redshirt freshman transfer Jenna O'Dell and true freshman Megan McCabe split time in goal in the lone test match of the year.
IT'S HER TEAM: Not only is she a senior on this year's squad, but Jessica Thomas is the only fourth-year player on the 2012 Eagles. Thomas takes the place of Julie Kaim as captain of the defense and looks to shore up an EMU back unit which was 10th in the MAC in goals against last season. Junior midfielders Cara Cutaia and Megan Pedro will serve as the other captains this season.
LIGHTNING AND THUNDER: The 2011 season proved to be a turbulent endeavor for the EMU offense. But by season's end, the duo of All-MAC Freshman Team selections Bianca Rossi and Angela Vultaggio established itself as one of the most dangerous in the conference. Vultaggio and Rossi finished the year first and second on the team in scoring with 13 and nine points, respectively. Vultaggio scored six goals including four in the final six games of the year and Rossi's first-career tally snapped a five-game streak in which EMU was held off the scoreboard.
THEY'RE BACK: A pair of award-winning EMU players return to the team for the 2012 season. Junior forward Stephanie Clarke is back after garnering CoSIDA third-team Academic All-District honors and sophomore defender Emily Dzik nabbed and All-MAC Freshman Team nomination. Clarke has 19 points (five goals, nine assists) in two seasons on Eastern Michigan's attacking unit. Dzik led the way in scoring among EMU backfielders in 2011 with a pair of goals and an assist.
SENIOR DAY SET FOR OCT. 14: Jessica Thomas, the lone senior on the 2012 team, will be honored in a ceremony prior to the EMU vs. Kent State University match Sunday, Oct. 14, at Scicluna Field.
STAY CURRENT WITH EMU SOCCER ALL SEASON LONG: EMUEagles.com is your one-stop spot for all the latest information on the EMU soccer program. Check out interviews with players and coaches, read game recaps and view the most recent statistics for your favorite EMU players.
Cinematic Highlights: Eastern Soccer vs. Kent State
Monday, October 28
Cinematic Highlights: Soccer vs. Western Michigan
Monday, October 14
Cinematic Highlights: Eastern Soccer vs. Miami
Monday, October 07
Cinematic Highlights: Eastern Soccer vs. Toledo
Friday, September 27