Women's Soccer

Eastern Michigan Headed To First MAC Final Since 2008

No. 7 Eastern Michigan 5, No. 6 Ohio 2
Boxscore

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio  – In a record-setting night, the Eastern Michigan University soccer team punched their ticket to the MAC Tournament finals for the first time since 2008 with a 5-2 over sixth-seeded Ohio.

Redshirt senior Kristin Hullibarger (Brooklin, Ontario-Donald A. Wilson) set the program single-game scoring record with four goals.

Junior Chelsea Abbotts' (Ottawa, Ontario-Mother Theresa) 13-save performance tied the record for fifth-most saves in a single game with Nikki Allen, who completed the feat twice in 2004.

The Eagles got on the board in the first 15 minutes for the second consecutive game. Junior Lindsey Shira (New Baltimore, Mich.-Anchor Bay) fed the ball to freshman Amanda Cripps (Bradford, Ontario-Trinity Catholic), who netted the first goal of the night for EMU from right in front of the goal in the 13th minute.

Ohio responded in the 19th minute with a goal of their own to tie things at one. From there, Eastern went on the offensive to build their lead before halftime.

Hullibarger would record a brace in the final nine minutes of the first half for the Eagles. In the 36th minute, Hullibarger found the rebound of a punched-out shot by the Ohio goalkeeper and sent it to the back of the net to put the Green and White back in front. Then, in the 41st minute, the redshirt senior connected on a cross from redshirt junior Sabrina McNeill (Whitby, Ontario-Henry Street) to give the Eagles the 3-1 lead going into halftime.

After the break, Eastern and Hullibarger wasted no time getting things started. In the 47th minute, redshirt junior Nicole Remedios' (Ajax, Ontario-Archbishop Dennis O'Connor) pass found the Brooklin, Ontario native in the box for the hat trick and 4-1 Eagles lead.

Finally, in the 55th minute, Cripps regained possession for Eastern Michigan and found Hullibarger ahead, who netted the goal to set the scoring record and put the Eagles in front, 5-1.

Ohio would score one more goal in the 65th minute to make the final score 5-2.

The Eagles were out-shot by the Bobcats, 18-to-11, while Ohio also held the edge in corners, three-to-one. Eastern put eight of their 11 shots on frame, while the Bobcats tallied 15 on frame.

Eastern Michigan will face hosts and top-seed Bowling Green Sunday, Nov. 10 at 1 p.m. at Cochrane Stadium for the MAC Tournament title.