Central Michigan University Athletics
CMU Field Hockey Opens Home Schedule
9/30/2003 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Sept. 30, 2003
MOUNT PLEASANT - The Central Michigan University field hockey team (2-5, 1-1 Mid-American Conference) begins its home schedule this weekend with three home matches in a four day period.
The Chippewas host: Kent State on Thursday, Oct. 2, at 2 p.m.; Ohio on Friday, Oct. 3, at 3 p.m.; and No. 6 Iowa on Sunday, Oct. 5, at 1 p.m.
CMU was also 1-1 last season after its first two MAC games, but the Chippewas went on the win four straight MAC matches en route to a conference title.
SCOUTING THE GOLDEN FLASHES - Kent State enters this week's game undefeated in the MAC after beating Ohio on the road last weekend, 4-0. Kent State is 3-6 for the season, but four of its six losses have come to top 20 opponents. In its last contest, the Golden Flashes fell to Michigan in Ann Arbor, 3-0.
Kent State is led by Jennifer Melnyk, whose seven goals are tops in the MAC. KSU goalkeeper Jessica Creeden leads the MAC in save percentage (.789). Kent State leads the all-time series, 29-9, and won two of the three games last season. All three matches last season went into overtime with two of the three going into double overtime.
SCOUTING THE BOBCATS - The Bobcats are 2-6 and 0-1 in the MAC heading into their match with CMU this Friday. Ohio fell at home to Kent State last Friday in its MAC opener, 4-0, and then traveled to Michigan State on Sunday and lost to the Spartans, 4-1. Ohio leads the all-time series, 26-17-1 although CMU won both matches last season.
SCOUTING THE HAWKEYES - Iowa is ranked sixth in the nation with a 8-2 record and a 1-0 record in the Big Ten. Iowa will play No. 5 Michigan on Saturday, Oct. 4, in Ann Arbor before heading to Mount Pleasant to play the Chippewas on Sunday.
Iowa swept the Big Ten "Player of the Week" honors last week with forward Pattie Gillern winning the offensive honors and goalkeeper Barb Weinberg earning the defensive honors. Gillern scored six goals last weekend, five against Southwest Missouri State. Weinberg had a pair of shutouts last weekend against No. 6 Penn State and Southwest Missouri State.
HEAD COACH FREESE ON HOME MATCHUPS - "I am glad that we are finally able to play a match at our home field in front of our fans. Kent State and Ohio are two quality MAC teams. I know that each game will be a close one and the team that makes the fewest mistakes and capitalizes on the other teams mistakes will win. Iowa is another strong team from the Big Ten and it will make us play tough and smart."
MIAMI AND LOUISVILLE RECAP - CMU beat Miami, 6-1, and fell to Louisville, 4-1, last weekend.
Allison Foland (Springfield, Va./Sr.) opened the scoring in the match against Miami with a goal at the 10:09 mark. She took a pass from Kristy Reed (South Wales, N.Y./Jr.) and one-timed it into the goal. Reed was credited with an assist on the play. Miami tied the game at one with a goal at 24:05 when Angie Snedden scored off a penalty shot.
CMU answered only 24 seconds later with a goal by Tarah Trottier (Kitchener, Ont./Sr.), the first of five unanswered CMU goals. The goal was assisted by Reed. Erica Takach (Duncannon, Pa./So.) scored at the 40:25 mark with an unassisted goal.
Kristy Reed then scored two goals in a row, at 58:07 off a penalty corner, and at 64:03. Assisting on both goals was Foland and assisting on the first goal was Michelle Fogle (Columbus, Ohio/Jr.). CMU's last goal of the game came with 47 seconds left in the game when Alicia Balanesi (Hanover, Pa./Fr.) scored with an assist from Kim Ferris (St. Louis, Mo./So.).
Laura Plese (Lindenhurst, Ill./Sr.) played the whole game in net for CMU. She made two saves while allowing only one goal.
In the game against Louisville, the Cardinal took an early lead with a goal at 12:10 by Jessica Javelet. CMU got on the board late in the first half when Tarah Trottier scored by tipping in a shot by Kristy Reed. Reed earned an assist on the play.
Louisville controlled the scoring in the second half as it scored twice -- at 38:14 by Olivia Netzler and at 69:41 by Desire Miller, her second of the game, off a penalty stroke.
Laura Plese started in goal for the Chippewas, making three saves and allowing two goals before being replaced by Danielle Frank (Williamsville, N.Y./Fr.) at the 30:15 mark.
