Eastern Michigan University’s women’s soccer dominated the Western Michigan Broncos Thursday, Oct. 19 at Scicluna Field. Eastern has seen great success at home this season and Thursday’s match was no different. Goalkeeper Kaylin Williams kept the Broncos off the scoreboard to help the team on their way to a 3-0 victory. Despite the difference in score, EMU still had to fight valiantly to secure their first victory against Western since the 2014 season.
Western dominated the shot totals in both halves of the match. Eastern scored two goals in the first half, one from Madeline Olson and the other from Kristin Nason, but was still outshot at a staggering total of 15-5. Along with the high shot totals, both teams played very physical in the first half. A combined total of 16 fouls were called in the first half alone, leading to one yellow card in the 38th minute for EMU’s Chloe Chatzis. Luckily for the Eagles, Williams was able to deflect or catch Western’s four shots that were on target.
In the second half the physical play continued. There was no love lost between the Eagles and Broncos on Thursday. Eastern would keep the pressure up, picking up nine more fouls in the second half to give them 18 on the game. Nason, who scored a goal for the Eagles in the first half, was issued a yellow card late in the second half for her physical play. Again, Eastern was outshot, this time by a slightly smaller margin at 14-6. Western’s offense put the pressure on EMU but Williams denied any attempt they made. Peyton Davis netted her fourth goal on the season in the 82nd minute off of an assist from Marla Cobetto effectively ending any hopes the Bronco’s had of making a comeback.
The victory for Eastern could not have came at a better time. Following a three game losing streak, it was necessary that EMU got back in the win column. With only two games left before the MAC tournament, Eastern needs to play at their highest level if they want to make a run. To make a run, Eastern must overcome their inability to win on the road. With a win over in-state rival Western, the Eagles will need to take the energy and emotion that showed on Thursday and carry it with them from here till the end of the season.
