East Michigan News

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – Sophomore Olivia Sipsock netted two goals, including one an Eastern Michigan University record eight seconds into the contest Sunday, Aug. 25, as the EMU soccer team defeated Youngstown State, 2-0, at Scicluna Field following a pre-match Senior Day celebration.

With the victory, the Eagles improved to 3-0 for the first time since 2004 and the third time in program history.

Sipsock (Medina, Ohio/Medina) scored the match's first goal just eight seconds into the contest by corralling a deflected ball before firing a left-footed strike from 18 yards out inside the right post.

The first half saw limited offensive pressure as both teams combined for seven shots.

Sipsock added another goal in the 67th minute by stealing an errant Penguin pass and slotting a four-yard shot home.

Redshirt sophomore Ella Holland (Dunwoody, Ga./Dunwoody/Samford) made a season-high seven saves to earn her second clean sheet of the season.

The Eagles led in shots with an 11-8 margin and corner kicks with a 7-2 margin.

Eastern moved to 3-0-0 on the year while Youngstown State fell to 1-1-1. Sipsock scored twice in a match for the first time in her career. The 2023 All-MAC Freshman Team honoree is the first Eagle to record a brace since current junior Hannah Thompson (Schoolcraft, Mich./Schoolcraft) scored twice against Kent State University on Oct. 6, 2022.

With her two goals against Youngstown State and after tallying an assist against Oakland University on Aug. 15 and scoring at UIC on Aug. 22, Sipsock is the first Eagle to open the season with three-straight matches with at least one point since Angela Vultaggio did so in four-straight matches in 2012.

Holland earned her second clean sheet of this season and third career shutout. The Eagles blanked Oakland, 1-0, on Aug. 15. EMU has two clean sheets in its first three matches for the first time since 2014.

For the second consecutive match, sophomore Sarah Van Euwen (Avon Lake, Ohio/Avon Lake) was the lone Eagle field player to play all 90 minutes.

After today's contest, Eastern leads in its all-time series with YSU at six wins and one draw. The Eagles have outscored Youngstown State by a total of twelve goals to one across all meetings and last conceded against them in1997.

The Eagles are off to their best start since going undefeated through their first three games back in2004.Eastern last started off their season with four straight victories backin1999,a campaign that ended with EMU's sole appearance inthe NCAA Tournament.

Eastern has secured back-to-back home wins forthefirst timesince defeating Central Michigan UniversityandtheUniversityofToledo respectively,on March4,andMarch18of2021.EMU had previously gone22matches without winning on itshomefield.

Conceding onlytwogoals overthefirstthreegamesoftheirseason marksthefewest allowedbyEMU sincetheir2010campaign.

Thesenior players recognizedbefore thematch were Sophia D'Ambra(Glen EllynIll./Glenbard South), Vittoria Greco(Brooklin Ontario/Brooklin), Jamie Lefebvre(London Ontario/A.B.Lucas Secondary), Sam Lenaghan(Toronto Ontario/Havergal College), Meagan Lukowski(Bay City Mich./Bay City), Maddie O'Farrell(Haslett Mich./Lansing Catholic), Chloe Rajewski(Midland Mich./Midland),andAshley Schneider(JohnstownOhio/Johnstown).

This game markedthefirsthomegameforEMU’ssoccerteamtobe broadcaston ESPN+.

Eastern Michigan will host Purdue University Fort Wayne ThursdayAug29at4:30p.m.atSciclunaField.ThematchwillaironESPN+.

For up-to-date informationontheEagles continue visiting EMUEagles.com.FanscanalsofollowtheteamonsocialmediaincludingTwitter(@EMUSoccer)andInstagram(@EMUSoccer).