The Eastern Michigan Women’s Soccer team lost to Oakland University, 1-0, on Friday in Rochester,
Mich.
The loss for the Eagles (0-4-1) is the fourth in a row for the team and was the fifth game of their six-game road trip.
Oakland (1-4-0) came out strong winning much of the first half and capitalizing on an EMU foul that created a penalty kick opportunity for midfielder Nicole DeLuca of Oakland to score the only goal at the 31-minute mark.
Later during the first half, the Eagles put the pressure on with a near goal off a penalty kick from Stephanie Clarke, which was saved by Oakland goalie Payj O’Shea.
Closing the first half, the Eagles displayed their offensive intensity again as they pressured Oakland with many shots but couldn’t find the back of the net..
Coming out of the second half, both teams looked for a new approach. Oakland took control of the opening minutes, while EMU searched for scoring power, substituting redshirt-freshman midfielder Chealsea Oddan and senior forward Chealsea Detrick for freshman midfielder Martha Stevens and sophomore forward Clarke.
Throughout much of the second half neither team could find its breakthrough moment. Oakland substitution’s came in waves while EMU remained unchanged, leaving both teams with a sense of urgency. Five shots were taken during a five minute stretch.
EMU had more shots on goal (6) than Oakland (4), but much of the game was deadlocked statistically.
With only minor separation between the two teams, Oakland found a way to edge out Eastern for its first win of the season.
EMU’s final game of its road trip is against Western Kentucky at 1 p.m. Sunday in Bowling Green, Ky.
