Detroit Mercy vs Eastern Michigan Game Preview

The Detroit Mercy Titans (5-5, 2-0 MAC) head to Ypsilanti, MI. on Sunday for a date with Eastern Michigan (5-6, 1-2 MAC). 

Last Time Out

Detroit Mercy knocked off Akron 10-8 at Titan Field on March 30. Attacker Libby Cuckler had one goal and three assists in the win while Midfielder Alyssa Jarvis led the way with a career-high five goals. In the cage, Meredith Leavell tallied nine saves - surpassing the 500 mark for her career. 

The Eagles fell to Central Michigan on March 30 by a 10-9 final. Both of the Eagles losses in conference play have been by just one goal. In both games, EMU held a lead in the fourth quarter. Midfielder Mackenzie Blackwell scored four goals in the loss.  

Eastern Michigan faced Michigan on Wednesday, April 2. They were led by Mackenzie Blackwell with three goals in a 17-5 loss. 

Scouting the Eagles

The Eagles came into 2025 returning eight of their top nine offensive producers. Mackenzie Blackwell leads the team with 37 goals which also leads the MAC. Her 3.36 goals per game is also best in the conference.

Freshman Katheryn Wilson has also contributed to the Eagles offense - totaling 21 goals (she had six vs Youngstown State alone) and 5 assists. 

The defense is anchored by the likes of Haley Hodak, Annika Wozney, and freshman Erin Humphrey. 

Despite the 1-2 start to MAC play, the Eagles boast a +11 goal differential in conference games. 

What Detroit Mercy is saying

Following the Titans' win over Akron, I had a chance to talk to head coach Alexa Matta. 

I asked her about the play of Libby Cuckler, who is having a career year. "Just because she wasn't the one putting it in the back of the net doesn't mean she's not leading us" Matta said of Cuckler's day against the Zips. In her last two games, Cuckler has accounted for five goals and four assists. Her 4.5 points per game in conference play is good for second. For the season, Cuckler has 19 goals and 10 assists. 

When asked about the match-up with EMU, Matta stated, "I think the biggest thing is we walk in, we worry about ourselves, stay hungry and stay humble." Matta went on to say the team feels like they are now the team to beat in the MAC. 

My Take 

This game will feature two top-notch goalies. Maddie Porter ranks first in the MAC for goals against average through three conference games with Meredith Leavell tied for second. Leavell leads the conference in saves per game at 13 and save percentage (59%). Nationally, Porter ranks 38th in goals against average and Leavell sits 10th in total saves and fourth in saves per game.

When I called the game between EMU and Youngstown State, the Eagles did very well in seven-on-seven defense. In three MAC games, the Eagles are giving up just 8.67 goals per game. One thing the Titans can do to counter this is to push transition. With two way ability from Maddy Camm, Leah Bodnar, and Alyssa Jarvis Detroit Mercy can certainly get some looks in transition if they can clear the ball efficiently. On the season they clear it at just under 85%. 

For Eastern Michigan, they need to prove they can close out a game. With two losses in the last three weeks where they squandered a fourth quarter lead, Eastern will likely be in another close contest on Sunday. Detroit Mercy has turned in some strong second half performances this spring. They surrendered just two goals in the second half against Kennesaw State and outscored Kent State 10-4 in the second half two weeks ago. So far in MAC competition, seven of nine league games have been decided by three goals or less. Detroit Mercy is 2-0 in such games while EMU is 0-2. 

Catch the game on ESPN+ at 11 a.m. eastern. I'll be calling the game alongside EMU play-by-play broadcaster Tom Helmer. 

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