East Michigan News

Eastern Michigan University Soccer Team Overcomes Two-Goal Deficit to Defeat UIC

CHICAGO, Ill. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University soccer team rallied from a two-goal second-half deficit to defeat UIC, 3-2, on Thursday at Flames Field.

Sophomore Sarah Van Euwen netted the game-winner in the 89th minute off an Eagle corner kick.

UIC opened the match's scoring in the 14th minute as the Flames outshot the Eagles, 9-1 in the first half. The Flames added a second goal in the 49th minute before senior Maddie O'Farrell scored for the Eagles just 55 seconds later with a free kick from 30 yards out.

Sophomore Olivia Sipsock netted an equalizer in the 64th minute with assists from redshirt freshman Josie Langhans and junior Scarlett Thomas. After defending against two corner kicks from UIC in the final minutes, EMU earned a corner of its own. O'Farrell had her shot blocked, but Van Euwen scored from 10 yards out to secure Eastern's victory.

The Flames led in shots by a margin of 16-11 and corner kicks by a margin of 4-3.

Eastern moved to 2-0-0 on the year while UIC moved to 1-1-0. O'Farrell netted her tenth career goal and first since facing Purdue Fort Wayne on Sept. 7, 2023. Sipsock scored her sixth career goal and started the season with points in consecutive matches after recording an assist against Oakland University on Aug. 15. Van Euwen's goal marked her first career points and she was also the lone Eagle field player to play all 90 minutes.

Van Euwen's game-winner at the 88:05 mark is EMU's latest game-winner since Amanda Cripps netted a goal at Ball State University on Nov. 3, 2019. With back-to-back late game-winners, this season marks Eastern’s first time achieving such victories after the 84th minute in consecutive matches since program history began.

Langhans made her first career start while redshirt sophomore Lucia Johnson and Thomas made their Eastern debuts. Redshirt sophomore Ella Holland was credited with six saves.

After today's contest, Eastern leads in the all-time series with UIC, holding a record of five wins without any losses or draws. The Eagles came back from a two-goal second-half deficit for the first time since topping Western Michigan University on Oct.6,2019,and started their season with two wins for the first time since2014 when they won against Fordham University and Indiana University.

Eastern Michigan will host Youngstown State Sunday at Scicluna Field with a pre-game Senior Day celebration beginning twenty minutes prior to kickoff.

For more information on EMU soccer visit EMUEagles.com or follow them on Twitter (@EMUSoccer) and Instagram (@EMUSoccer).