Central Michigan University Athletics
Soccer Continues Homestand This Weekend
9/28/2004 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
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Sept. 28, 2004
The Central Michigan University soccer team hosts two of the top teams in the Mid-American Conference this weekend.
The Chippewas entertain Northern Illinois on Friday at 3 p.m., and second-place Western Michigan on Sunday at 1 p.m. Both matches will be played at the Soccer Complex which is west of Kelly/Shorts Stadium inside Bennett Track.
CMU currently sits in fifth place in the MAC Standings. Ohio leads the conference with 11 points and an undefeated MAC record of 3-0-2. Tied for second are Western Michigan (3-1-1), Miami (3-0-1) and Eastern Michigan (3-1-1) with 10 points. CMU is 2-1-1 in the conference and has eight points.
HEAD COACH Tony DiTucci:
"We have two difficult matchups this weekend and it is important to work hard this week to prepare for those contests. The team will work on the things we struggled with last weekend and also continue to improve the things we did well. It is important we continue to get better in all areas, not just the offense because we did not score a lot of goals last weekend. We need to have great focus and continue to work hard everyday.
"Every match presents a new challenge and it is important we meet those challenges. Both Northern and Western are solid squads and I expect both to be tough matches for us. We need to concentrate on the little details because those things are what win matches for you. We need to continue to stay aggressive and take advantage of our opportunities."
THIS WEEK • Northern Illinois:
The Huskies entered last weekend as one of nine teams in Division I to be undefeated, but they lost twice, falling to 4-2-3 overall. NIU sits in tie for eight-place in the MAC with Buffalo. Both have six points with NIU holding a 1-1-3 conference mark.
Northern Illinois' losses last weekend came it the hands of Western Michigan, 2-1 in overtime, and Southeast Missouri State, 5-0. NIU had only allowed four goals prior to those two matches, but allowed seven during the weekend. Keeper Carrie Dvorak had led the MAC in goals against average and save percentage before last weekend, but she now sits seventh in GAA (1.12) and sixth in save percentage (.851). The offense is led by freshman Beth Matus with four goals.
CMU leads the all-time series, 4-3, and won four of the last five meetings. CMU defeated NIU last season, 2-0.
THIS WEEK • Western Michigan:
The Broncos enter this weekend 7-2-1 overall and second in the MAC with a 3-1-1 record. Western gave Northern Illinois its first loss of the season last weekend, 2-1 in overtime, then travelled to IPFW and shut out the Mastodons, 3-0.
WMU utilize a pair of goalkeepers who are also sisters. Kate and Lea Perz have both seen time in net for the Broncos with Kate earning a majority of the starts, but Lea starting against IPFW. Kate is third in the MAC with a 0.81 GAA.
The Broncos have controlled the rivalry, winning five of the seven meetings. Western won last years match, 4-1.
NO SHOT FOR YOU:
CMU allowed only 12 shots in its two shutouts last weekend with only six of those being on-goal. This is the first time since 1999 that CMU has shut out both its opponents during a two-match weekend. The team has shut out three of its last four opponents. In the three shutouts, CMU has limited its opponents to an average of 6.3 shots per match with only 3.3 being on-goal.
DECKING THE RECORD BOOKS:
With the shut out tie with Toledo, sophomore goalkeeper Anne Decker became CMU's career leader in shutouts with nine. After recording six during her freshman season, Decker has notched three so far this year. She is also the only MAC keeper to have stopped a penalty kick in conference action, having done it against Ball State in overtime and in a shut out of Kent State.
CLOSING NUMBER - 17.3:
CMU leads the MAC in shots per match, notching 17.3 per contest.
