EMU Produces Shutout Against Indiana State, 4-0

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University soccer team picked up its second victory in as many games, shutting out Indiana State University, 4-0, at Scicluna Field Sunday, Sept. 22. The Eagles recognized the match as Ovarian Cancer Awareness Day, wearing teal armbands, headbands and special white jerseys with teal-colored numbers, the color of ovarian cancer awareness.

EMU controlled the contest from start to finish as Angela Vultaggio (Chesterfield, Mich.- L'Anse Creuse North) scored a pair of second-half goals to lead the Green and White (3-4-1). Cara Cutaia (Burlington, Ontario-Notre Dame Catholic) and Bianca Rossi (Mississauga, Ontario -St. Marcellinus) also found the net for the Eagles.

Megan McCabe (Arlington Heights, Ill. -Prospect) (3-4-1) and Anna Vess (Shelby Twp./Mich.-Eisenhower) split time between the posts to secure the EMU's first shutout of the season. McCabe made five saves in over 83 minutes of work, while Vess stopped one shot against the high-scoring Sycamores (3-6-0), a team that recorded 15 goals throughout the season heading into the match.

ISU goalkeeper Abby Keller (1-1-0) faced 10 shots on the afternoon, preventing six of them from going into the net. Eastern had an 8-1 advantage in corner kicks and also outshot Indiana State, 22-12, including 10-6 in shots on goal.

For the second straight match, the Eagles did not waste time grasping the lead. In the seventh minute, Cutaia relayed a pass to Allison Kaim (Palos Hills, Ill.-AA Stagg). Making her first start of the season, veteran senior led Rossi into the box, and Rossi snuck the ball past Keller as EMU jumped out in front, 1-0.

Over 10 minutes later, Rossi was on the opposite end of another EMU goal. The Mississauga, Ontario native found sophomore Jennifer Bentley (London, Ontario-London Secondary) on the left side of the field, who sent a cross into Cutaia. As the team leader in goals, Cutaia knew what to do, taking advantage of the superb pass and blasting it into the net to give the Eagles a two-goal advantage. The Eastern backs would prevent ISU from having any decent scoring opportunities, and the Green and White headed into the half with a 2-0 lead.

At halftime, the EMU soccer family presented a plaque and flowers to the Kaim family. Cheryl Kaim, mother of current player Allison and former player Julie Kaim, passed away in 2011 fighting ovarian cancer. Cheryl was not only a mother to her girls, but to the entire EMU soccer team. The Eagles honored her and the rest of those affected by ovarian cancer by raising over $5000 for the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition.

In the second half, Vultaggio scored both goals for the Eagles, beginning in the 48th minute. Rossi tallied her second assists of the contest by leading Vultaggio, who sprinted 30 yards and broke away from the defender to rifle the ball past the ISU goalie, increasing the lead to three. Closing out the scoring, Martha Stevens (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.-Marian) and Megan Trapp (Plymouth, Mich.-Canton) set up Vultaggio for another goal with 16:37 remaining, giving the Eagles their second four-goal victory in three days.

With the non-conference portion of the schedule complete, EMU opens up Mid-American Conference action with a pair of contests at Scicluna Field next week. The Eagles host Northern Illinois University, Sept. 27, at 5 p.m., before the University of Toledo comes to town for a 1 p.m. start, Sept. 29.

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Team Stats

Angela Vultaggio

Bianca Rossi

Cara Cutaia

Megan Trapp

Eastern Michigan Athletics