Central Michigan University Athletics
Soccer Ends Season With Postseason Appearance
11/12/2002 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
Nov. 12, 2002
MOUNT PLEASANT -- The Central Michigan University women's soccer team wrapped up its 2002 campaign with an appearance in the Mid-American Conference tournament first round last week.
"We were a young team and some players saw improvements in many areas on the field," noted fifth-year head coach Mark Salisbury. "However, we were inconsistent throughout the year, and we didn't achieve the goals we set for ourselves."
The Chippewas fell to the Miami RedHawks on November 5 by a 5-1 count. With the loss, the Chippewas finish the year 5-9-5 overall. CMU finished eighth in the MAC regular season, owning a 4-6-3 mark in conference action.
LAST WEEK - The No. 8-seeded Chippewas ended their season, falling to the top-seeded Miami RedHawks in the Mid-American Conference tournament first round, 5-1.
"Miami was clearly a better team that day," Salisbury said. "Miami exposed our weaknesses and deserved to win."
It was Miami's persistent offense that led it to the semifinals of the MAC tourney. By the end of the first half, MU had outshot the Chippewas, 12-1. The eventual tourney champions rifled 18 shots on the afternoon, 12 of them landed on CMU netminder Kari Alexander (Midland/Jr.). CMU only managed six shots in the game, five of them on net.
The RedHawks jumped out to an early lead when Danielle Berkemeier tallied a goal in the first five minutes of play. Miami proceeded to take a 3-0 lead into the half, and were up 5-0 thanks to a natural hat trick from the foot of Andrea Cunningham.
CMU negated the shut out when Olina Vidarsdottir (Grindavik, Iceland/So.) found the net with only seconds remaining in the game. Vidarsdottir got the unassisted tally at the 89:12 mark.
POSTSEASON HONORS - Two of CMU's women's soccer athletes were honored for their successes both on and off the field last week. Katie Conway (Saint Charles, Illinois/Jr.) was named to the Verizon Academic All-District second team while Jill Adams (Saint Louis, Missouri/Jr.) was named to the Academic All-MAC team. Conway is an art/education major with a 3.88 cumulative grade point average, and Adams is a biology major and owns a 3.91 cumulative grade point average.
IN THE TOURNEY - With the 5-1, first-round loss to Miami in the MAC tourney, the Chippewas are now 2-4 in postseason play. CMU is 2-2 in first-round matches, and has been outscored in tournament action, 14-8.
SOLID FOUNDATION RETURNS - The Chippewas will return to the 2003 campaign with a solid foundation to build upon. Three of the team's top four scorers return next season, including the top scorer, Olina Vidarsdottir. Vidarsdottir lead the team with seven goals, three assists, and 17 points. Cari VanDyck (Medina, Ohio/Jr.) will return after a three-goal, three-assist, nine-point season. She was second on the team. The Chippewas' fourth leading scorer was Jacqui Lorenzo (Hudson, Ohio/Jr.), who finished the year with two goals, one assist, and five points.
SENIOR SALUTE - The Chippewas bid adieu to four or their senior members with the final game last week. Donning the Maroon and Gold for the final time were Sabrina Borgquist (West Bloomfield), Erica Peterson (Fenton), Kit Schwartz (Des Moines, Iowa), and Emilie VilleMonte (Farmington Hills). This season, Borgquist had one goal, three assists, and five points. Peterson tallied one goal, one assist, for three points, while VilleMonte ended the season with four goals and eight points.
WHERE THEY STAND - In the career annals, Sabrina Borgquist finished first among all-time assist leaders. She has 15. Emilie VilleMonte finished two goals shy of the all-time goals mark at CMU with 22. Also, Kari Alexander is nearing the career-save mark. Alexander has 188 saves in her three years. She is 28 saves off of the mark established by Beth Quiney (216). Alexander also turned in three shutouts, and is now the all-time shutout leader at CMU (eight).
In the season record book, Alexander finished the season with an all-time high of 104 saves. That mark eclipsed her own standard of 84 saves back in 2001.
