Eastern Michigan Athletics
Thursday, August 22
Chicago, Ill.
6 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
at
UIC
Eastern Soccer Traveling to UIC, Hosting Youngstown State
8/20/2024 3:10:00 PM | Soccer
Eagles will celebrate Senior Day, Aug. 25
| Soccer at UIC | vs. Youngstown State | |
| Date | Thursday, Aug. 22 at 6 p.m. ET | Sunday, Aug. 25 at 1 p.m. |
| Venue | Flames Field | Chicago, Ill. | Scicluna Field | Ypsilanti, Mich. |
| Preview Info | EMU Notes (PDF) |
| Watch | Watch at UIC | Watch vs. Youngstown State |
| Live Stats | Live Stats |
| @EMUSoccer | @EMUAthletics | |
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – After beating Oakland, 1-0, Aug. 15, the Eastern Michigan University soccer team will look to continue its quality play with a road contest at UIC, Aug. 22, at Flames Field and Senior Day against Youngstown State, Aug. 25, at Scicluna Field.
ON THE AIR: The Eagles and Flames will air on ESPN+ at 6 p.m. from Flames Field. Conor Clingen has the call.
For the first time in program history, the Eagles will have a home match aired on ESPN+ at Scicluna Field. Tom Helmer has the call. Furthermore, live stats for the match will be available at EMUEagles.com/livestats.
QUICK KICKS:
» Sophomore Cameryn Susey's 85th-minute match-winning goal opened a new era for EMU under first-year Head Coach Taylor Clarke as the Eagles topped Oakland, 1-0, Aug. 15, at Scicluna Field in the opening match of the 2024 season.
» Redshirt sophomore Ella Holland (Dunwoody, Ga./Dunwoody/Samford) needed just one save to record her second career clean sheet as EMU's swarming defense limited the Golden Grizzlies to a mere five attempts at goal, only one of which came on-target from long range.
» Head Coach Taylor Clarke is in his first season at the helm of the Eagles. Joining Clarke on staff are Associate Head Coach Matt Hinds and Assistant Coach Mary Carlson.
» Clarke, the third head coach in program history, replaced Scott Hall, who retired at the end of the 2023 season. Hall amassed a 210-215-67 record with MAC championships in 1999, 2003, and 2013. Hall, who played on the EMU men's team as a student, was a part of every EMU women's match in history as he served as an assistant coach from 1995-1999 before taking over as the head coach following the tragic death of Paul Scicluna.
» EMU returns sophomores Kate Robinson and Olivia Sipsock, who both earned Freshman All-MAC honors in 2023.
» Eastern Michigan is 250-246-70 all-time and stands 143-117-34 in MAC play.
SENIOR DAY VS. YOUNGSTOWN STATE: Eastern is holding Senior Day before/after the match against Youngstown State, Aug. 25, with the following student-athletes expected to be recognized: Sophia D'Ambra, Vittoria Greco, Jamie Lefebvre, Sam Lenaghan, Meagan Lukowski, Maddie O'Farrell, Chloe Rajewski, and Ashley Schneider.
SUSEY'S 85TH-MINUTE GAME WINNER VS. OAKLAND: Sophomore Cameryn Susey scored the match's lone goal in the 85th-minute. She was assisted by Olivia Sipsock and junior Mary Grimes. On cross from Grimes, Susey one-touched off her right thigh a shot past the OU keeper inside the left post to provide the game-winner. Susey netted her second career goal, having scored an equalizer against the University at Buffalo, Oct. 1, 2023.
The goal at 84:55 was the Eagles' latest game-winner since Lexy Alson scored at the 85:47 mark to beat Central Michigan, March 4, 2021.
COACHES' FIRST CONTEST: Head Coach Taylor Clarke, the third head coach in program history, became the second to earn a win in his opening match. Paul Scicluna dropped his first three matches as head coach, including a 6-1 loss to Buffalo, Sept. 15, 1995. Conversely, Scott Hall won his first six matches, including a 5-1 win over IUPUI (now IU-Indy), Sept. 1, 1999.
SCOUTING UIC: UIC is 1-0-0 in 2024 after topping Chicago State in a home match to open the season, Aug. 15. Chopper Carriere and Sophia Jaime each netted goals for UIC while Lauren Kessler posted a clean sheet, despite none of Chicago State's three shots coming on-goal.The Flames went 6-8-5 in 2023 with a 5-3-2 mark in the Missouri Valley Conference.
IN THE SERIES WITH THE FLAMES: The Eagles lead by a 4-0-0 margin in the all-time series with the Flames. Despite conceding at least one goal in all four matches, the Eagles have used multi-goal efforts to put all four all-time meetings in the win column.
In the teams' most recent match, EMU won, 2-1, Sept. 9, 2018. In that match, Parys Kerr scored the game-winner at the 84:37 mark to break the 1-1 tie. EMU outshot UIC, 28-11, in the match.
Eastern last trip to UIC resulted in a 2-1 EMU win, Aug. 20, 2017. In that match, Alia Frederick scored the game-winner at the 62:59 mark to break the 1-1 tie. EMU outshot UIC, 22-16, in the match.
SCOUTING YOUNGSTOWN STATE: YSU is 0-0-1 in 2024 after a 2-2 draw against MAC-foe Kent State in a home match to open the season, Aug. 18. Lianna Van Sice and Taylor Berry each scored against the Golden Flashes. The Penguins went 7-7-3 in 2023 with a 3-5-2 mark in the Horizon League.
IN THE SERIES WITH THE PENGUINS: The Eagles lead by a 5-0-1 margin in the all-time series with the Penguins. The Eagles have conceded just one goal over six matches against the Penguins while EMU has scored multiple goals in four of the six all-time matches but have been limited to one total goal in the last two matches.
In the teams' most recent match, the teams drew, 0-0, Sept. 13, 2019. Eastern's Mabel Dunn made four saves for the clean sheet as EMU outshot YSU, 32-12, in the match but was unable to get on the scoreboard.
YSU's last trip to Ypsilanti resulted in a 1-0 EMU win, Sept. 8, 2017. In that match, Nicole Remedios scored the game-winner at the 80:55 mark to break the 0-0 tie. EMU outshot YSU, 18-6, in the match. Kaylin Williams made three saves to keep the Penguins off the scoreboard.
EMU IN SEASON + HOME OPENERS: Eastern sports a record of 13-8-9 all-time in its season-opening match. The Eagles opened the season at home for the sixth year in a row and bettered its record in those matches, going 2-1-3 in the those six. Overall, EMU is 7-4-6 when its season-opening match is also its first match of the year at home. Eastern is 14-9-7 in its home opener and holds a stellar record of 6-1-5 in last 12 home-openers with a 4-0 setback to visiting Illinois State (Aug. 19, 2021) the only blemish in that time. EMU, which played St. Bonaventure to a 2-2 draw, Aug. 17, 2023, has scored at least two goals in five of its last seven home openers.
CLEAN SHEET SEEKER: With the 1-0 shutout of Oakland, Aug. 15, Eastern found its first season-opening clean sheet since Aug. 21, 2016, a scoreless draw against Butler. EMU last won via season-opening shutout against Fordham, 2-0, Aug. 22, 2014. The Eagles posted one clean sheet in 2023, a 1-0 win at Central Michigan, Sept. 21, 2023.
Eastern is seeking back-to-back clean sheets for the first time since Sept. 8, 2017 against Youngstown State and Sept. 10, 2017 against Oakland, both 1-0 were EMU wins and also the last time the Eagles have recorded back-to-back shutouts at Scicluna Field.
If EMU secures a clean sheet against UIC, Aug. 22, the Eagles would be going for their third-straight shutout against YSU, Aug. 25. Eastern has not had three-straight clean sheets since 2009, shutting out Ohio (T, 0-0; Sept. 27, 2009), Buffalo (W, 2-0; Oct. 2, 2009), and Kent State (W, 1-0; Oct. 4, 2009) during the 2009 season, a year in which the Eagles had a separate streak of three-straight matches with goalkeeper Maggie Manville at the helm. EMU has not won three-straight matches via a clean sheet since 1999, beating Central Michigan (W, 1-0; Oct. 29, 1999), Kent State (W, 5-0; Nov. 2, 1999), and Ohio (W, 1-0; Nov. 5, 1999)
PROTECTING HOME TURF: With the 1-0 shutout of Oakland, Aug. 15, EMU earned their first victory at Scicluna Field since topping Morehead State by a 2-1 scoreline, Sept. 5, 2021, as Eastern snapped a 22-match home streak since its last victory at Scicluna Field. Eastern had not secured a home shutout since beating Miami, 3-0, Oct. 18, 2018, breaking a stretch of 39 home contests.
250TH WIN: Eastern earned its 250th win in program history with a 1-0 win over Oakland, Aug. 15, sporting an all-time record of 250-246-70.
FIVE SHOTS ALLOWED AGAINST OAKLAND: The Eagles allowed just five Oakland shot attempts in the 1-0 win, Aug. 15. The five shots allowed is the fewest by EMU since allowing four shot attempts at Oakland, Aug. 20, 2023. In both matches, Eastern allowed just one shot on goal, but EMU lost 1-0 against OU in 2023.
COMING HOME + CAMPUS CONNECTIONS: Senior Sophia D'Ambra (Glen Ellyn, Ill.), junior Lily Spotak (Palatine, Ill.), and freshman Mackenzie Loomis (St. Charles East, Ill.) will return to their home state to battle UIC, Aug. 22. UIC's Delany Engel is also from Glen Ellyn, but D'Ambra attended Glenbard South while Engel was at Glenbard West.
KATE ROBINSON AND OLIVIA SIPSOCK FRESHMEN PHENOMS IN 2023: Then-freshmen Kate Robinson and Olivia Sipsock combined for 25 points in 2023, making up for more than half of the team's 48 points. Robinson was MAC Freshman of the Year and led the MAC in assists while her 13 points topped MAC freshmen marks. Sipsock's 12 points were tied for the second-highest mark in the MAC in 2023. Eastern Michigan is one of four schools to have two players named Freshman All-MAC in 2023. EMU had multiple players on the Freshman All-MAC team for the first time since 2011 (Emily Dzik, Bianca Rossi, and Angela Vultaggio).
Robinson and Sipsock are the top returning freshmen in terms of total points and points/match.
2023 MAC Freshmen Rankings By Points/Match:
Player Per Match Total Points School
1. Kate Robinson 0.68 13 (3g/7a) Eastern Michigan
2. Olivia Sipsock 0.63 12 (5g/2a) Eastern Michigan
3. Josie Morgan 0.57 12 (5g/2a) Kent State
4. Emma Stransky 0.50 9 (3g/3a) Bowling Green
5. Alanna Raimado 0.43 9 (4g/1a) Kent State
KATE ROBINSON MAC ASSISTS LEADER IN 2023: Freshman Kate Robinson led the MAC with seven assists, the most by an Eagle since Angela Vultaggio (8), Stephanie Clarke (7), and Martha Stevens (7) all tallied at least seven assists in 2013. Robinson is the first EMU freshman in 16 years and the third freshman in program history to record at least seven assists in a season, joining Jodi Coyle (8, 1997) and Stephanie Janssens (8, 2007).
2023 MAC Assists Leaders:
Player Assists School
1. Kate Robinson 7 Eastern Michigan
2. Delaney Caldwell 6 Kent State
Jenna Blackburn 6 Kent State
Jen Blitchok 6 Bowling Green
Alisa Arthur 6 Kent State
HEAD COACH TAYLOR CLARKE: Taylor Clarke is in his first season at the helm of Eastern Michigan. Clarke is just the third head coach in program history (since 1995). Clarke was previously at Division III's Carroll University with additional stops at the MAC's Bowling Green State (Associate Head Coach, 2021-23), Division II's Ashland (Head Coach, 2018-21; Assistant Coach, 2014-16), Division III's Calvin College (Assistant Coach, 2017-18), and UNC-Wilmington (Assistant Coach, 2016-17). Clarke played his college soccer at Division II Saginaw Valley State, captaining the 2012 squad to the Division II National Championship match. Clarke holds a 44-18-10 career mark and a 1-0-0 mark at EMU.
ASSOCIATE HEAD COACH MATT HINDS: Matt Hinds was hired as the team's associate head coach. Hinds spent the last three seasons as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at his alma mater Division III Calvin College. Hinds, an All-American at Calvin 2017, overlapped with Clarke at Calvin as Clarke was an assistant coach for the Knights at the time. The pair also overlapped at Division II Ashland as Hinds spent one year and a half on staff for the Eagles. Hinds started his coaching journey at Divsion II Malone in 2019.
ASSISTANT COACH MARY CARLSON: Mary Carlson was hired as the team's assistant coach. Carlson, who was a four-year starter at the MAC's Central Michigan, was Girls Associate Head Coach at Grace Christian Academy in Franklin, Tenn. She has also been a middle school mathematics teacher at the school for four years while taking on a Boys Assistant Soccer Coach role and Middle School Athletics Assistant role in 2022.
A TRIBUTE TO FORMER HEAD COACH SCOTT HALL: The 2023 season marked the 25th Scott Hall served as the head coach of the Eastern program. A former student-athlete at EMU (1990-94) and a four-year assistant coach (1995-98), Hall was part of the first 565 matches the Eagles played in its existence, including 483 as the head coach. Sporting a record of 210-215-67, Hall guided the Eagles to 15 MAC Tournament appearances with one tournament title secured in three championship match appearances. Winners of three MAC regular season crowns (1999, 2003, and 2013), the three-time MAC Coach of the Year also helped the Eagles reach the 1999 NCAA Tournament, the first and only national tournament appearance in program history.
WHO'S BACK?: The entire eligible roster stuck with the team through the 2024 spring slate, despite the coaching change. Ultimately, heading into the season's first match, only Kevser Guendogdu left the program as she went back to her home country of Germany, leaving the Eagles with a roster of 36 players.
Eastern Michigan ranks fourth in the nation in returning players from 2023:
1. Cal Poly - 30
T2. Boise State - 29
T2. Wake Forest - 29
4. Eastern Michigan - 27
Furthermore, EMU's 27 returners with no collegiate transfers tops McNeese State's mark of 22 returners without a transfer out.
WHO'S NEW?: Eastern Michigan added a trio of transfers (Ela Kisin, Long Island; Lucia Johnson, Akron; Scarlett Thomas, Missouri) to go with seven freshmen (Ellery Boeving, Howell, Mich.; Bella Bowen, Peterborough, Ontario; Claire Gonyea, Trenton, Mich.; Emily Kolodin, Grand Blanc, Mich.; Mackenzie Loomis, St. Charles, Ill.; and Tayla Maddock, Camlachie, Ontario).
Maddock, who played 28 minutes, was the lone Eagle newcomer to see the field in the 1-0 win against Oakland, Aug. 15.
WHO'S GONE?: Rebecca Przybylo and Tiffanie Hollingsworth completed their eligibility with the 2023 season. Przybylo finished her career with 192 saves, good for eighth in program history, while Hollingsworth played in 69 career matches, drawing 48 starts as a defender.
CANADIAN CONNECTION: Eastern Michigan has seven student-athletes from Canada, all of which are from Ontario.
EMU ranks tied for the third in the nation in student-athletes in Canada and second in the nation in student-athletes from Ontario:
1. Maine 13 (four from Ontario)
2. Niagara 8 (all eight from Ontario)
T3. Eastern Michigan (all seven from Ontario)
T3. South Florida 7 (six from Ontario)
EMU AGAINST THE BIG 12: Eastern is 0-2 all-time against the current Big 12, which includes losses against Colorado (L, 0-4 - Sept. 4, 2004) and Arizona State (L, 0-7 - Sept. 15, 2000). EMU will battle the Big 12's Cincinnati, Sept. 1.
STATE OF MICHIGAN MATCHES: Eastern Michigan is scheduled to play three in-state foes in regular-season action (Oakland, Aug. 15; Central Michigan, Sept. 19; and Western Michigan, Oct. 13). The 2024 season will be the first time the Eagles have not played a road match in the state of Michigan in a season since 2000, marking the second time in program history EMU will not visit an in-state foe. The Eagles hold an all-time record of 53-54-20 against Michigan teams after topping Oakland, Aug. 15.
THREE-OF-FOUR AT HOME TO START 2024: Eastern Michigan is scheduled to play three of its first four matches at home as the Eagles host Oakland, Aug. 15; Youngstown State, Aug. 25; and PFW, Aug. 29, only broken up by a road contest at UIC, Aug. 22. EMU has not played three of its first four contests at home since 2012 when the Eagles started the season with three-straight home matches, going 1-1-1 in the three matches.
NON-CONFERENCE CLOSE TO HOME IN 2024: Eastern Michigan has four road non-conference matches scheduled, all of which are outside of the state of Michigan. Despite that, EMU's longest non-conference trip is 251 miles to Chicago, Ill., (at UIC, Aug. 22; at Loyola Chicago, Sept. 15). Out of the furthest non-conference trip from each season, 251 miles is the shortest since 1999 when the Eagles went to Youngstown State (225 miles) in Scott Hall's first season at the helm. EMU's Sept. 1 trip to Cincinnati comes in at 249 miles while the trek to Valparaiso, Sept. 12, is 214 miles.
FOLLOW ALONG: You can follow the Eagles on your favorite social media platforms, including Twitter (@EMUSoccer), Instagram (@EMUSoccer), and Facebook (Eastern Michigan Soccer).
UP NEXT: Eastern Michigan hosts Purdue Fort Wayne, Aug. 29, before heading to the University of Cincinnati, Sept. 1.
ON THE AIR: The Eagles and Flames will air on ESPN+ at 6 p.m. from Flames Field. Conor Clingen has the call.
For the first time in program history, the Eagles will have a home match aired on ESPN+ at Scicluna Field. Tom Helmer has the call. Furthermore, live stats for the match will be available at EMUEagles.com/livestats.
QUICK KICKS:
» Sophomore Cameryn Susey's 85th-minute match-winning goal opened a new era for EMU under first-year Head Coach Taylor Clarke as the Eagles topped Oakland, 1-0, Aug. 15, at Scicluna Field in the opening match of the 2024 season.
» Redshirt sophomore Ella Holland (Dunwoody, Ga./Dunwoody/Samford) needed just one save to record her second career clean sheet as EMU's swarming defense limited the Golden Grizzlies to a mere five attempts at goal, only one of which came on-target from long range.
» Head Coach Taylor Clarke is in his first season at the helm of the Eagles. Joining Clarke on staff are Associate Head Coach Matt Hinds and Assistant Coach Mary Carlson.
» Clarke, the third head coach in program history, replaced Scott Hall, who retired at the end of the 2023 season. Hall amassed a 210-215-67 record with MAC championships in 1999, 2003, and 2013. Hall, who played on the EMU men's team as a student, was a part of every EMU women's match in history as he served as an assistant coach from 1995-1999 before taking over as the head coach following the tragic death of Paul Scicluna.
» EMU returns sophomores Kate Robinson and Olivia Sipsock, who both earned Freshman All-MAC honors in 2023.
» Eastern Michigan is 250-246-70 all-time and stands 143-117-34 in MAC play.
SENIOR DAY VS. YOUNGSTOWN STATE: Eastern is holding Senior Day before/after the match against Youngstown State, Aug. 25, with the following student-athletes expected to be recognized: Sophia D'Ambra, Vittoria Greco, Jamie Lefebvre, Sam Lenaghan, Meagan Lukowski, Maddie O'Farrell, Chloe Rajewski, and Ashley Schneider.
SUSEY'S 85TH-MINUTE GAME WINNER VS. OAKLAND: Sophomore Cameryn Susey scored the match's lone goal in the 85th-minute. She was assisted by Olivia Sipsock and junior Mary Grimes. On cross from Grimes, Susey one-touched off her right thigh a shot past the OU keeper inside the left post to provide the game-winner. Susey netted her second career goal, having scored an equalizer against the University at Buffalo, Oct. 1, 2023.
The goal at 84:55 was the Eagles' latest game-winner since Lexy Alson scored at the 85:47 mark to beat Central Michigan, March 4, 2021.
COACHES' FIRST CONTEST: Head Coach Taylor Clarke, the third head coach in program history, became the second to earn a win in his opening match. Paul Scicluna dropped his first three matches as head coach, including a 6-1 loss to Buffalo, Sept. 15, 1995. Conversely, Scott Hall won his first six matches, including a 5-1 win over IUPUI (now IU-Indy), Sept. 1, 1999.
SCOUTING UIC: UIC is 1-0-0 in 2024 after topping Chicago State in a home match to open the season, Aug. 15. Chopper Carriere and Sophia Jaime each netted goals for UIC while Lauren Kessler posted a clean sheet, despite none of Chicago State's three shots coming on-goal.The Flames went 6-8-5 in 2023 with a 5-3-2 mark in the Missouri Valley Conference.
IN THE SERIES WITH THE FLAMES: The Eagles lead by a 4-0-0 margin in the all-time series with the Flames. Despite conceding at least one goal in all four matches, the Eagles have used multi-goal efforts to put all four all-time meetings in the win column.
In the teams' most recent match, EMU won, 2-1, Sept. 9, 2018. In that match, Parys Kerr scored the game-winner at the 84:37 mark to break the 1-1 tie. EMU outshot UIC, 28-11, in the match.
Eastern last trip to UIC resulted in a 2-1 EMU win, Aug. 20, 2017. In that match, Alia Frederick scored the game-winner at the 62:59 mark to break the 1-1 tie. EMU outshot UIC, 22-16, in the match.
SCOUTING YOUNGSTOWN STATE: YSU is 0-0-1 in 2024 after a 2-2 draw against MAC-foe Kent State in a home match to open the season, Aug. 18. Lianna Van Sice and Taylor Berry each scored against the Golden Flashes. The Penguins went 7-7-3 in 2023 with a 3-5-2 mark in the Horizon League.
IN THE SERIES WITH THE PENGUINS: The Eagles lead by a 5-0-1 margin in the all-time series with the Penguins. The Eagles have conceded just one goal over six matches against the Penguins while EMU has scored multiple goals in four of the six all-time matches but have been limited to one total goal in the last two matches.
In the teams' most recent match, the teams drew, 0-0, Sept. 13, 2019. Eastern's Mabel Dunn made four saves for the clean sheet as EMU outshot YSU, 32-12, in the match but was unable to get on the scoreboard.
YSU's last trip to Ypsilanti resulted in a 1-0 EMU win, Sept. 8, 2017. In that match, Nicole Remedios scored the game-winner at the 80:55 mark to break the 0-0 tie. EMU outshot YSU, 18-6, in the match. Kaylin Williams made three saves to keep the Penguins off the scoreboard.
EMU IN SEASON + HOME OPENERS: Eastern sports a record of 13-8-9 all-time in its season-opening match. The Eagles opened the season at home for the sixth year in a row and bettered its record in those matches, going 2-1-3 in the those six. Overall, EMU is 7-4-6 when its season-opening match is also its first match of the year at home. Eastern is 14-9-7 in its home opener and holds a stellar record of 6-1-5 in last 12 home-openers with a 4-0 setback to visiting Illinois State (Aug. 19, 2021) the only blemish in that time. EMU, which played St. Bonaventure to a 2-2 draw, Aug. 17, 2023, has scored at least two goals in five of its last seven home openers.
CLEAN SHEET SEEKER: With the 1-0 shutout of Oakland, Aug. 15, Eastern found its first season-opening clean sheet since Aug. 21, 2016, a scoreless draw against Butler. EMU last won via season-opening shutout against Fordham, 2-0, Aug. 22, 2014. The Eagles posted one clean sheet in 2023, a 1-0 win at Central Michigan, Sept. 21, 2023.
Eastern is seeking back-to-back clean sheets for the first time since Sept. 8, 2017 against Youngstown State and Sept. 10, 2017 against Oakland, both 1-0 were EMU wins and also the last time the Eagles have recorded back-to-back shutouts at Scicluna Field.
If EMU secures a clean sheet against UIC, Aug. 22, the Eagles would be going for their third-straight shutout against YSU, Aug. 25. Eastern has not had three-straight clean sheets since 2009, shutting out Ohio (T, 0-0; Sept. 27, 2009), Buffalo (W, 2-0; Oct. 2, 2009), and Kent State (W, 1-0; Oct. 4, 2009) during the 2009 season, a year in which the Eagles had a separate streak of three-straight matches with goalkeeper Maggie Manville at the helm. EMU has not won three-straight matches via a clean sheet since 1999, beating Central Michigan (W, 1-0; Oct. 29, 1999), Kent State (W, 5-0; Nov. 2, 1999), and Ohio (W, 1-0; Nov. 5, 1999)
PROTECTING HOME TURF: With the 1-0 shutout of Oakland, Aug. 15, EMU earned their first victory at Scicluna Field since topping Morehead State by a 2-1 scoreline, Sept. 5, 2021, as Eastern snapped a 22-match home streak since its last victory at Scicluna Field. Eastern had not secured a home shutout since beating Miami, 3-0, Oct. 18, 2018, breaking a stretch of 39 home contests.
250TH WIN: Eastern earned its 250th win in program history with a 1-0 win over Oakland, Aug. 15, sporting an all-time record of 250-246-70.
FIVE SHOTS ALLOWED AGAINST OAKLAND: The Eagles allowed just five Oakland shot attempts in the 1-0 win, Aug. 15. The five shots allowed is the fewest by EMU since allowing four shot attempts at Oakland, Aug. 20, 2023. In both matches, Eastern allowed just one shot on goal, but EMU lost 1-0 against OU in 2023.
COMING HOME + CAMPUS CONNECTIONS: Senior Sophia D'Ambra (Glen Ellyn, Ill.), junior Lily Spotak (Palatine, Ill.), and freshman Mackenzie Loomis (St. Charles East, Ill.) will return to their home state to battle UIC, Aug. 22. UIC's Delany Engel is also from Glen Ellyn, but D'Ambra attended Glenbard South while Engel was at Glenbard West.
KATE ROBINSON AND OLIVIA SIPSOCK FRESHMEN PHENOMS IN 2023: Then-freshmen Kate Robinson and Olivia Sipsock combined for 25 points in 2023, making up for more than half of the team's 48 points. Robinson was MAC Freshman of the Year and led the MAC in assists while her 13 points topped MAC freshmen marks. Sipsock's 12 points were tied for the second-highest mark in the MAC in 2023. Eastern Michigan is one of four schools to have two players named Freshman All-MAC in 2023. EMU had multiple players on the Freshman All-MAC team for the first time since 2011 (Emily Dzik, Bianca Rossi, and Angela Vultaggio).
Robinson and Sipsock are the top returning freshmen in terms of total points and points/match.
2023 MAC Freshmen Rankings By Points/Match:
Player Per Match Total Points School
1. Kate Robinson 0.68 13 (3g/7a) Eastern Michigan
2. Olivia Sipsock 0.63 12 (5g/2a) Eastern Michigan
3. Josie Morgan 0.57 12 (5g/2a) Kent State
4. Emma Stransky 0.50 9 (3g/3a) Bowling Green
5. Alanna Raimado 0.43 9 (4g/1a) Kent State
KATE ROBINSON MAC ASSISTS LEADER IN 2023: Freshman Kate Robinson led the MAC with seven assists, the most by an Eagle since Angela Vultaggio (8), Stephanie Clarke (7), and Martha Stevens (7) all tallied at least seven assists in 2013. Robinson is the first EMU freshman in 16 years and the third freshman in program history to record at least seven assists in a season, joining Jodi Coyle (8, 1997) and Stephanie Janssens (8, 2007).
2023 MAC Assists Leaders:
Player Assists School
1. Kate Robinson 7 Eastern Michigan
2. Delaney Caldwell 6 Kent State
Jenna Blackburn 6 Kent State
Jen Blitchok 6 Bowling Green
Alisa Arthur 6 Kent State
HEAD COACH TAYLOR CLARKE: Taylor Clarke is in his first season at the helm of Eastern Michigan. Clarke is just the third head coach in program history (since 1995). Clarke was previously at Division III's Carroll University with additional stops at the MAC's Bowling Green State (Associate Head Coach, 2021-23), Division II's Ashland (Head Coach, 2018-21; Assistant Coach, 2014-16), Division III's Calvin College (Assistant Coach, 2017-18), and UNC-Wilmington (Assistant Coach, 2016-17). Clarke played his college soccer at Division II Saginaw Valley State, captaining the 2012 squad to the Division II National Championship match. Clarke holds a 44-18-10 career mark and a 1-0-0 mark at EMU.
ASSOCIATE HEAD COACH MATT HINDS: Matt Hinds was hired as the team's associate head coach. Hinds spent the last three seasons as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at his alma mater Division III Calvin College. Hinds, an All-American at Calvin 2017, overlapped with Clarke at Calvin as Clarke was an assistant coach for the Knights at the time. The pair also overlapped at Division II Ashland as Hinds spent one year and a half on staff for the Eagles. Hinds started his coaching journey at Divsion II Malone in 2019.
ASSISTANT COACH MARY CARLSON: Mary Carlson was hired as the team's assistant coach. Carlson, who was a four-year starter at the MAC's Central Michigan, was Girls Associate Head Coach at Grace Christian Academy in Franklin, Tenn. She has also been a middle school mathematics teacher at the school for four years while taking on a Boys Assistant Soccer Coach role and Middle School Athletics Assistant role in 2022.
A TRIBUTE TO FORMER HEAD COACH SCOTT HALL: The 2023 season marked the 25th Scott Hall served as the head coach of the Eastern program. A former student-athlete at EMU (1990-94) and a four-year assistant coach (1995-98), Hall was part of the first 565 matches the Eagles played in its existence, including 483 as the head coach. Sporting a record of 210-215-67, Hall guided the Eagles to 15 MAC Tournament appearances with one tournament title secured in three championship match appearances. Winners of three MAC regular season crowns (1999, 2003, and 2013), the three-time MAC Coach of the Year also helped the Eagles reach the 1999 NCAA Tournament, the first and only national tournament appearance in program history.
WHO'S BACK?: The entire eligible roster stuck with the team through the 2024 spring slate, despite the coaching change. Ultimately, heading into the season's first match, only Kevser Guendogdu left the program as she went back to her home country of Germany, leaving the Eagles with a roster of 36 players.
Eastern Michigan ranks fourth in the nation in returning players from 2023:
1. Cal Poly - 30
T2. Boise State - 29
T2. Wake Forest - 29
4. Eastern Michigan - 27
Furthermore, EMU's 27 returners with no collegiate transfers tops McNeese State's mark of 22 returners without a transfer out.
WHO'S NEW?: Eastern Michigan added a trio of transfers (Ela Kisin, Long Island; Lucia Johnson, Akron; Scarlett Thomas, Missouri) to go with seven freshmen (Ellery Boeving, Howell, Mich.; Bella Bowen, Peterborough, Ontario; Claire Gonyea, Trenton, Mich.; Emily Kolodin, Grand Blanc, Mich.; Mackenzie Loomis, St. Charles, Ill.; and Tayla Maddock, Camlachie, Ontario).
Maddock, who played 28 minutes, was the lone Eagle newcomer to see the field in the 1-0 win against Oakland, Aug. 15.
WHO'S GONE?: Rebecca Przybylo and Tiffanie Hollingsworth completed their eligibility with the 2023 season. Przybylo finished her career with 192 saves, good for eighth in program history, while Hollingsworth played in 69 career matches, drawing 48 starts as a defender.
CANADIAN CONNECTION: Eastern Michigan has seven student-athletes from Canada, all of which are from Ontario.
EMU ranks tied for the third in the nation in student-athletes in Canada and second in the nation in student-athletes from Ontario:
1. Maine 13 (four from Ontario)
2. Niagara 8 (all eight from Ontario)
T3. Eastern Michigan (all seven from Ontario)
T3. South Florida 7 (six from Ontario)
EMU AGAINST THE BIG 12: Eastern is 0-2 all-time against the current Big 12, which includes losses against Colorado (L, 0-4 - Sept. 4, 2004) and Arizona State (L, 0-7 - Sept. 15, 2000). EMU will battle the Big 12's Cincinnati, Sept. 1.
STATE OF MICHIGAN MATCHES: Eastern Michigan is scheduled to play three in-state foes in regular-season action (Oakland, Aug. 15; Central Michigan, Sept. 19; and Western Michigan, Oct. 13). The 2024 season will be the first time the Eagles have not played a road match in the state of Michigan in a season since 2000, marking the second time in program history EMU will not visit an in-state foe. The Eagles hold an all-time record of 53-54-20 against Michigan teams after topping Oakland, Aug. 15.
THREE-OF-FOUR AT HOME TO START 2024: Eastern Michigan is scheduled to play three of its first four matches at home as the Eagles host Oakland, Aug. 15; Youngstown State, Aug. 25; and PFW, Aug. 29, only broken up by a road contest at UIC, Aug. 22. EMU has not played three of its first four contests at home since 2012 when the Eagles started the season with three-straight home matches, going 1-1-1 in the three matches.
NON-CONFERENCE CLOSE TO HOME IN 2024: Eastern Michigan has four road non-conference matches scheduled, all of which are outside of the state of Michigan. Despite that, EMU's longest non-conference trip is 251 miles to Chicago, Ill., (at UIC, Aug. 22; at Loyola Chicago, Sept. 15). Out of the furthest non-conference trip from each season, 251 miles is the shortest since 1999 when the Eagles went to Youngstown State (225 miles) in Scott Hall's first season at the helm. EMU's Sept. 1 trip to Cincinnati comes in at 249 miles while the trek to Valparaiso, Sept. 12, is 214 miles.
FOLLOW ALONG: You can follow the Eagles on your favorite social media platforms, including Twitter (@EMUSoccer), Instagram (@EMUSoccer), and Facebook (Eastern Michigan Soccer).
UP NEXT: Eastern Michigan hosts Purdue Fort Wayne, Aug. 29, before heading to the University of Cincinnati, Sept. 1.
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/ SoccerCinematic 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