The Eastern Michigan University women’s soccer team picked up its first win of the season on Aug. 26 with a 1-0 win over the Butler Bulldogs, moving their overall record to 1-1-1. The game was scoreless throughout, with the Eagles having several early attempts on goal. The team wasn’t able to score until the sixty-fifth minute of play.
The Eagles were led by freshman forward Sarah Deakin, who scored her first career goal to give the team the lead. Redshirt freshman goalkeeper Jenna O’Dell played shut-down defense by stopping 10 shots on goal and earning her first career shutout in the big win.
Butler had twice as many shots as the Eagles with 21 and 10 on goal compared to the eight shots by EMU and only four on goal. Clutch assists came from upperclassman and senior defender Jessica Thomas passing to sophomore forward Angela Vultaggio who set up Deakin for the goal. Vultaggio led the Eagles with half of the shots despite not being able to score.
In the eighty-third minute, Butler pressured the Eagles, putting a crucial shot on goal and beating O’Dell. The shot was missed, bouncing off the left goal post. The win wraps up a three game home stretch for the team on a positive note.
The team began their first road trip of the season as they headed south to San Antonio Aug. 31 and faced the University of Texas San Antonio Road Runners.
