Eastern Michigan Athletics
Friday, September 27
Scicluna Field
5 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
vs
Northern Illinois
Photo by: Steve King/KingStudios
EMU Soccer Begins MAC Play With a Pair of Home Contests
9/25/2013 4:26:00 PM | Soccer
Eagles host Northern Illinois, Sept. 27, and Toledo, Sept. 29 at Scicluna Field
Complete Notes
Coach Hall Interview
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University women's soccer team will look to keep the momentum going from the end of non-conference play into the Mid-American Conference season as the Eagles host two conference foes at Scicluna Field this weekend. EMU opens with a contest against Northern Illinois University, Sept. 27 at 5 p.m., before hosting the University of Toledo, Sept. 29, at 1 p.m.
After a weekend where the Eagles won their final two non-conference games by four goals each, EMU has climbed the MAC charts. The Green and White lead the conference in points (54) and assists (20), while sitting second in goals (17) and saves (45). The 20 assists not only ranks at the top of the MAC, but it also marks as the 19th best in the nation. The Eagles also place 57th nationally in scoring offense.
Team co-captain Cara Cutaia leads the offensive charge with 12 points on the season, including five goals. Cutaia's points and goal totals are second best in the MAC. Following closely behind is junior Angela Vultaggio, the team's leader in assists (3), who has found the net four times, including three goals in the last two contests.
Sophomore goalkeeper Megan McCabe holds down the defensive side of the pitch, stopping 44 shots in eight games between the posts, the second most saves among all MAC goalies as well as 54th nationally. Making 5.50 saves per game, she holds the 47th best mark in the nation.
Eagles Unite: The contest against Northern Illinois is not only the MAC lid lifter, but it is also the first Eagles Unite game of the 2013-14 athletic season. The new mantra of the Eastern Michigan University Department of Athletics – "Eagles Unite" – is more than just a catchy slogan, but a campaign of support that pervades all of EMU's 21 varsity sports. The athletic department is encouraging student-athletes to attend specific sporting events that serve as the opportunity for them to show their school pride both on and off the field while building camaraderie amongst other student athletes.
Scouting the Huskies: Northern Illinois enters its conference opener against the Eagles with a record of 2-5-1. Senior Cori Frankenberg leads the Huskies on the field with a team best in points (4), shots (12) and is also tied for a team-leading two goals. Another NIU senior, Amy Carr, has been in the net for all 757 minutes of the Huskies' 2013 campaign thus far. The Hemel Hempstead, England native has recorded 35 saves on the season, ranking third in the conference.
Throughout the series between the two teams, Eastern has held a 13-3-2 advantage. While the Eagles have won the past four meetings, three of those matches were decided by one goal or less, including 1-0 decision the past two years in favor of the Green and White.
Last Time Versus NIU: EMU and NIU last met on the pitch just over one year ago, Sept. 21, 2012, when the Eagles left Dekalb, Ill. with a 1-0 conference road victory. Bianca Rossi's successful penalty kick midway through the second half proved to be the deciding factor. EMU's high-pressure attack finally paid off in the 64th minute, when NIU made an illegal play inside the 18-yard box to send Rossi to the penalty kick dot. Rossi deposited her kick past goalkeeper Amy Carr to score her fourth goal of the season and second game-winner of 2012. EMU goalkeeper Jenna O'Dell recorded her third shutout of the season and stopped a trio of NIU shots on goal.
Looking at Toledo: The Rockets are currently 3-5-0 on the season after being tabbed as the preseason favorite to win the MAC West. Toledo is led by senior forward Rachel MacLeod, who leads the conference in goals (7) and points (15) while also tying atop the conference with a pair of game-winning scores. MacLeod's seven goals rank her 31st in the country, while she is 29th in goals per game, scoring nearly a goal in each contest.
Sam Tiongson is the primary goalie for the Midnight Blue and Gold, allowing 13 goals for a 1.86 goals against average. The sophomore keeper has made 31 stops on the season, enough for fifth place in the conference. Earlier this season, she secured her second career shutout in a 1-0 victory over Youngstown State, Aug. 30.
Revenge Against the Rockets: With nearly everyone returning from last year's squad, it's safe to say that revenge may be on the mind of many EMU soccer players. Following an 8-3 record against conference opponents, including a 3-0 victory over the Rockets, Sept. 23, 2012, the Eagles were bounced from the MAC Tournament by Toledo, Oct. 28. After 110 minutes of play, the game stood at a 1-1 tie, forcing the decision via penalty kicks. In the shootout, the No. 6-ranked Rockets found the net twice compared to only once for the No. 3-ranked Eagles, eliminating Eastern's chance at a MAC Championship.
Goals Galore: Wrapping up the non-conference slate, the Eagles opened the scoring floodgates, finding the net a combined nine times in victories over Stetson and Indiana State. The nine goals more-than doubled their scoring output in the first six non-conference games as the Green and White scored eight goals in the first six contests.
The last time EMU scored nine or more goals over a weekend span was during the 2001 season. The Green and White shut out Bowling Green, 3-0, Oct. 2, and followed up the victory with a 6-1 win against Akron, Oct. 4.
Freshmen Find the Field: With the Eagles firmly in control during the late stages of matches versus Stetson, Sept. 20, and Indiana State, Sept. 22, Head Coach Scott Hall's entire 2013 recruiting class saw action on the pitch. Stef Barcelos, Madi Criner, Madison Hirsch, Gabriella Mancini, Michelle Rollins and Rachel Washburn all competed for the Green and White. Against the Hatters and Sycamores, it was the EMU debuts for Criner, Mancini, Rollins and Washburn.
While this weekend was not the first time Barcelos and Hirsch have played for the Eagles, they both notched the first points of their careers. Against Stetson, Barcelos scored her first collegiate goal from over thirty yards out, striking a perfect floater over the outstretched goalkeeper and just under the crossbar to give Eastern a 4-0 lead at that point. Hirsch recorded the first point of her EMU career when she used a free kick to find Megan Trapp for a late second half goal.
Eagles Complete Weekend Sweep to End Non-Conference Play: After a brutal start to the season that included four opponents from the Big Ten Conference, EMU ended the non-conference slate with a pair of four-goal victories at Scicluna Field. Five different Eagles found the goal in a 5-1 victory over Stetson University, Sept. 20. Martha Stevens, Megan Trapp and Angela Vultaggio each recorded a goal and an assist. Cara Cutaia found the net for a team-leading fourth time this season, and freshman Stef Barcelos scored the first goal of her career on a 30-yard floater over Stetson goalkeeper Victoria Troccoli.
Eastern continued the momentum into Sunday's match against Indiana State University, Sept. 22, shutting out the Sycamores, 4-0. EMU controlled the contest from start to finish as Vultaggio scored a pair of second-half goals to lead the Green and White (3-4-1). Cutaia and Bianca Rossi also found the net for the Eagles. Between the posts Megan McCabe and Anna Vess made a combined six saves to secure the shutout.
EMU Soccer Nabs Both MAC Player of the Week Accolades: Following an impressive weekend where it outscored opponents, 9-1, in two matches, the EMU soccer team swept both MAC Women's Soccer Player of the Week honors for the period ending, Sept. 22. EMU forward Angela Vultaggio earned the MAC Offensive Player of the Week distinction while goalkeeper Megan McCabe was named MAC Defensive Player of the Week for the second time this season.
Vultaggio had a huge weekend for the Green and White, recording a .700 shots-on-goal percentage, scoring on three of her seven attempts on goal. After scoring one goal and adding an assist against Stetson, the Chesterfield, Mich. native found the net twice against Indiana State to round out her weekend with seven points (three goals, one assist). At the end of non-conference play, Vultaggio paces the Eagles with three assists to go along with a shot on goal percentage of .654. She also ranks second on the team in goals and points, with four and 11, respectively.
McCabe was on the defensive end of the two impressive victories, allowing just one goal in 173 minutes of play to earn her second MAC Player of the Week award of the 2013 campaign. The sophomore stopped six shots in a 5-1 victory over Stetson before making five saves in a 4-0 shutout against Indiana State. The 11 saves this week now gives the Arlington Heights, Ill. native 44 saves through the first eight games of the season, ranking second among all MAC goalkeepers.
Road #MACtion: After five straight matches at home, the Green and White hit the road for the first time in conference play, traveling to Bowling Green State University, Oct. 4, for a 7 p.m. match under the lights. Two days later, the Eagles take on in-state rival Central Michigan University, Oct. 6, at 1 p.m. in Mount Pleasant, Mich.
Rigorous Non-Conference Slate: Nothing will come easily for the Green and White this season as Coach Scott Hall hopes a grueling non-conference schedule will prepare the Eagles for MAC play. So far, the Eagles have faced two nationally-ranked teams in Ohio State and Michigan, taking both teams to overtime before falling by a 2-1 decision in back-to-back contests taking place away from the friendly confines of Scicluna Field. The Green and White have also faced Big Ten foes in Indiana and Michigan State, who are a combined 15-1-3. The teams on Eastern's non-conference schedule currently post a combined record of 43-19-9. With a .669 winning percentage, the Eagles' road to MAC play is a difficult one to travel.
Coach Hall Interview
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University women's soccer team will look to keep the momentum going from the end of non-conference play into the Mid-American Conference season as the Eagles host two conference foes at Scicluna Field this weekend. EMU opens with a contest against Northern Illinois University, Sept. 27 at 5 p.m., before hosting the University of Toledo, Sept. 29, at 1 p.m.
After a weekend where the Eagles won their final two non-conference games by four goals each, EMU has climbed the MAC charts. The Green and White lead the conference in points (54) and assists (20), while sitting second in goals (17) and saves (45). The 20 assists not only ranks at the top of the MAC, but it also marks as the 19th best in the nation. The Eagles also place 57th nationally in scoring offense.
Team co-captain Cara Cutaia leads the offensive charge with 12 points on the season, including five goals. Cutaia's points and goal totals are second best in the MAC. Following closely behind is junior Angela Vultaggio, the team's leader in assists (3), who has found the net four times, including three goals in the last two contests.
Sophomore goalkeeper Megan McCabe holds down the defensive side of the pitch, stopping 44 shots in eight games between the posts, the second most saves among all MAC goalies as well as 54th nationally. Making 5.50 saves per game, she holds the 47th best mark in the nation.
Eagles Unite: The contest against Northern Illinois is not only the MAC lid lifter, but it is also the first Eagles Unite game of the 2013-14 athletic season. The new mantra of the Eastern Michigan University Department of Athletics – "Eagles Unite" – is more than just a catchy slogan, but a campaign of support that pervades all of EMU's 21 varsity sports. The athletic department is encouraging student-athletes to attend specific sporting events that serve as the opportunity for them to show their school pride both on and off the field while building camaraderie amongst other student athletes.
Scouting the Huskies: Northern Illinois enters its conference opener against the Eagles with a record of 2-5-1. Senior Cori Frankenberg leads the Huskies on the field with a team best in points (4), shots (12) and is also tied for a team-leading two goals. Another NIU senior, Amy Carr, has been in the net for all 757 minutes of the Huskies' 2013 campaign thus far. The Hemel Hempstead, England native has recorded 35 saves on the season, ranking third in the conference.
Throughout the series between the two teams, Eastern has held a 13-3-2 advantage. While the Eagles have won the past four meetings, three of those matches were decided by one goal or less, including 1-0 decision the past two years in favor of the Green and White.
Last Time Versus NIU: EMU and NIU last met on the pitch just over one year ago, Sept. 21, 2012, when the Eagles left Dekalb, Ill. with a 1-0 conference road victory. Bianca Rossi's successful penalty kick midway through the second half proved to be the deciding factor. EMU's high-pressure attack finally paid off in the 64th minute, when NIU made an illegal play inside the 18-yard box to send Rossi to the penalty kick dot. Rossi deposited her kick past goalkeeper Amy Carr to score her fourth goal of the season and second game-winner of 2012. EMU goalkeeper Jenna O'Dell recorded her third shutout of the season and stopped a trio of NIU shots on goal.
Looking at Toledo: The Rockets are currently 3-5-0 on the season after being tabbed as the preseason favorite to win the MAC West. Toledo is led by senior forward Rachel MacLeod, who leads the conference in goals (7) and points (15) while also tying atop the conference with a pair of game-winning scores. MacLeod's seven goals rank her 31st in the country, while she is 29th in goals per game, scoring nearly a goal in each contest.
Sam Tiongson is the primary goalie for the Midnight Blue and Gold, allowing 13 goals for a 1.86 goals against average. The sophomore keeper has made 31 stops on the season, enough for fifth place in the conference. Earlier this season, she secured her second career shutout in a 1-0 victory over Youngstown State, Aug. 30.
Revenge Against the Rockets: With nearly everyone returning from last year's squad, it's safe to say that revenge may be on the mind of many EMU soccer players. Following an 8-3 record against conference opponents, including a 3-0 victory over the Rockets, Sept. 23, 2012, the Eagles were bounced from the MAC Tournament by Toledo, Oct. 28. After 110 minutes of play, the game stood at a 1-1 tie, forcing the decision via penalty kicks. In the shootout, the No. 6-ranked Rockets found the net twice compared to only once for the No. 3-ranked Eagles, eliminating Eastern's chance at a MAC Championship.
Goals Galore: Wrapping up the non-conference slate, the Eagles opened the scoring floodgates, finding the net a combined nine times in victories over Stetson and Indiana State. The nine goals more-than doubled their scoring output in the first six non-conference games as the Green and White scored eight goals in the first six contests.
The last time EMU scored nine or more goals over a weekend span was during the 2001 season. The Green and White shut out Bowling Green, 3-0, Oct. 2, and followed up the victory with a 6-1 win against Akron, Oct. 4.
Freshmen Find the Field: With the Eagles firmly in control during the late stages of matches versus Stetson, Sept. 20, and Indiana State, Sept. 22, Head Coach Scott Hall's entire 2013 recruiting class saw action on the pitch. Stef Barcelos, Madi Criner, Madison Hirsch, Gabriella Mancini, Michelle Rollins and Rachel Washburn all competed for the Green and White. Against the Hatters and Sycamores, it was the EMU debuts for Criner, Mancini, Rollins and Washburn.
While this weekend was not the first time Barcelos and Hirsch have played for the Eagles, they both notched the first points of their careers. Against Stetson, Barcelos scored her first collegiate goal from over thirty yards out, striking a perfect floater over the outstretched goalkeeper and just under the crossbar to give Eastern a 4-0 lead at that point. Hirsch recorded the first point of her EMU career when she used a free kick to find Megan Trapp for a late second half goal.
Eagles Complete Weekend Sweep to End Non-Conference Play: After a brutal start to the season that included four opponents from the Big Ten Conference, EMU ended the non-conference slate with a pair of four-goal victories at Scicluna Field. Five different Eagles found the goal in a 5-1 victory over Stetson University, Sept. 20. Martha Stevens, Megan Trapp and Angela Vultaggio each recorded a goal and an assist. Cara Cutaia found the net for a team-leading fourth time this season, and freshman Stef Barcelos scored the first goal of her career on a 30-yard floater over Stetson goalkeeper Victoria Troccoli.
Eastern continued the momentum into Sunday's match against Indiana State University, Sept. 22, shutting out the Sycamores, 4-0. EMU controlled the contest from start to finish as Vultaggio scored a pair of second-half goals to lead the Green and White (3-4-1). Cutaia and Bianca Rossi also found the net for the Eagles. Between the posts Megan McCabe and Anna Vess made a combined six saves to secure the shutout.
EMU Soccer Nabs Both MAC Player of the Week Accolades: Following an impressive weekend where it outscored opponents, 9-1, in two matches, the EMU soccer team swept both MAC Women's Soccer Player of the Week honors for the period ending, Sept. 22. EMU forward Angela Vultaggio earned the MAC Offensive Player of the Week distinction while goalkeeper Megan McCabe was named MAC Defensive Player of the Week for the second time this season.
Vultaggio had a huge weekend for the Green and White, recording a .700 shots-on-goal percentage, scoring on three of her seven attempts on goal. After scoring one goal and adding an assist against Stetson, the Chesterfield, Mich. native found the net twice against Indiana State to round out her weekend with seven points (three goals, one assist). At the end of non-conference play, Vultaggio paces the Eagles with three assists to go along with a shot on goal percentage of .654. She also ranks second on the team in goals and points, with four and 11, respectively.
McCabe was on the defensive end of the two impressive victories, allowing just one goal in 173 minutes of play to earn her second MAC Player of the Week award of the 2013 campaign. The sophomore stopped six shots in a 5-1 victory over Stetson before making five saves in a 4-0 shutout against Indiana State. The 11 saves this week now gives the Arlington Heights, Ill. native 44 saves through the first eight games of the season, ranking second among all MAC goalkeepers.
Road #MACtion: After five straight matches at home, the Green and White hit the road for the first time in conference play, traveling to Bowling Green State University, Oct. 4, for a 7 p.m. match under the lights. Two days later, the Eagles take on in-state rival Central Michigan University, Oct. 6, at 1 p.m. in Mount Pleasant, Mich.
Rigorous Non-Conference Slate: Nothing will come easily for the Green and White this season as Coach Scott Hall hopes a grueling non-conference schedule will prepare the Eagles for MAC play. So far, the Eagles have faced two nationally-ranked teams in Ohio State and Michigan, taking both teams to overtime before falling by a 2-1 decision in back-to-back contests taking place away from the friendly confines of Scicluna Field. The Green and White have also faced Big Ten foes in Indiana and Michigan State, who are a combined 15-1-3. The teams on Eastern's non-conference schedule currently post a combined record of 43-19-9. With a .669 winning percentage, the Eagles' road to MAC play is a difficult one to travel.
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