First Half Surge Propels Eagles Past Huskies, 4-1

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – Three first-half goals helped propel the Eastern Michigan University soccer team to a 4-1 victory over Northern Illinois University Friday evening, Sept. 27, in the Mid-American Conference opener for both teams. Scoring four-or-more goals for the third straight game, the Eagles kept the momentum from non-conference play alive to win their third consecutive contest and even their record at 4-4-1 (1-0 MAC). With the loss, the Huskies dropped to 2-6-1 (0-1 MAC) on the 2013 campaign.

A season-best crowd of 386 at Scicluna Field saw the Eagles conquer the Huskies in the first Eagles Unite game of the 2013-14 season as EMU student-athletes from various teams came out to shot support.

Four different Eagles scored goals as Angela Vultaggio (Chesterfield, Mich.-L'Anse Creuse North) led the way with an assist and her fifth goal of the season. Bianca Rossi (Mississauga, Ontario-St. Marcellinus) started the game's scoring with her fourth goal of 2013, and Emily Dzik (Troy, Mich. -Troy) found the net for the first time this season with a header late in the first half. During the final 45 minutes of play, senior Stephanie Clarke (London, Ontario-St. Thomas Aquinas) remained perfect on the year in penalty kicks, striking her second of the 2013 campaign. Marisa Kozikowski (Troy, Mich.-Athens) added a pair of assists.

Between the posts, reigning MAC Defensive Player of the Week Megan McCabe (Arlington Heights, Ill.-Prospect) (4-4-1) recorded three saves while allowing one goal throughout 90 minutes. On the other side of the pitch, NIU goalkeeper Amy Carr (2-6-1) made four stops.

The match started out even in the first 19 minutes until the Eagles struck for the first time. Kozikowski and Vultaggio found Rossi on the right side of the box, and the Mississauga, Ontario native was able to rifle a shot past the left side of Carr, putting the Eagles out in front, 1-0. Coach Scott Hall's squad continued to have its foot on the throttle, doubling its lead just two minutes later. After a shot by Rossi was blocked by NIU, Kozikowski once again found a teammate. Vultaggio, the reigning MAC Offensive Player of the Week, used her head to find the net, giving the Eagles a two-goal advantage in the 22nd minute.

When it looked as if the EMU lead would stand at two after the first 45 minutes of play, a foul on Northern Illinois gave the Green and White a free kick. The Eagles took advantage of the miscue as freshman Rachel Washburn (Hartland, Mich.-Hartland), in her first career start, took the free kick and sent it into the box. The ball soared across the box to the head of Dzik, who found the opening in the top right corner and increased the margin to three with just 15 seconds to play in the first half.

While the teams tied in corner kicks (2-2) and fouls (6-6), EMU outshot NIU 10-8, including a 6-2 advantage of shots on goal in the opening 45 minutes.

Trailing by three goals, the Huskies pressured EMU early in the second half, getting on the scoreboard in the 53rd minute. Katrina Rozzell send a ball across the box to Nicole Gobbo, who recorded her third goal of the season and cut the deficit to two, 3-1.

NIU would continue to threaten, but its aggressiveness led to a yellow card against Rozzell, prompted by a collision between herself and McCabe. Thirteen minutes later on the other side of the field, the Huskies fouled EMU in the box to set up a penalty kick. Just like she did earlier in the season against Michigan State, Sept. 15, the senior midfielder came through on the penalty kick, blasting a rocket just under the crossbar to increase the EMU lead back to three goals. The Green and White was able to control the pace for the rest of the game, holding on to its three goal lead for the 4-1 victory.

The Eagles stay in Ypsilanti for its second conference game of the season, battling the University of Toledo (3-6-0 (0-1 MAC)) Sunday, Sept. 29, at Scicluna Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.

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Team Stats

Angela Vultaggio

Bianca Rossi

Stephanie Clarke

Emily Dzik

Eastern Michigan Athletics