Central Michigan University Athletics
Field Hockey Looks to Remain in MAC Title Hunt
10/5/2005 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Oct. 5, 2005
Complete Release, including statistics and MAC standings, in PDF Format
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This Week's Opponents
Kent State Golden Flashes
(0-11, 0-1 Mid-American)
Friday, October 7
3 p.m.
KSU Field Hockey Complex
Winless at 0-11, 0-2 in the Mid-American Conference ... KSU leads the all-time series, 33-9... CMU lost to KSU, 2-1, in the most recent match ... Golden Flashes were No. 1 in the MAC Preseason Coaches Poll... coming off a 5-2 loss to eighth-ranked Indiana... have been shut out four times this season... have allowed 14 goals in the last four matches ... leading point scorer is Mel Bierens de Haan with seven.
Ohio Bobcats
(5-6, 3-0 Mid-American)
Saturday, October 8
1 p.m.
Peggy Pruitt Field
Receiving six votes in this week's STX/NFHCA Coaches Poll, as is CMU... MAC leader with a 3-0 conference record and 5-6 overall... Ohio leads the all-time series 26-21-1 ...the Chippewas won the most recent match, 2-1, last season... Bobcats have shut out their last two opponents in Missouri State and Saint Louis... have allowed just seven goals in five matches... leading scorer is Torrie Albini with 11 points... goalkeeper Jennifer Cote is third in the MAC with her 2.46 goals against average.
MOUNT PLEASANT -- In order to remain in the hunt for the Mid-American Conference championship, the Central Michigan University field hockey team (6-5, 3-1 Mid-American) is going to have to do something this week that it hasn't done all year long ... win on the road on the opponents' home field.
The Chippewas are 0-3 in true road games and they can't let that pattern continue during MAC play.
The Chippewas face a key, two-match road swing at Kent State and Ohio this Friday and Saturday, Oct. 7-8.
CMU opens with the Golden Flashes on Friday (0-11, 0-1 Mid-American) at 3 p.m. at the KSU Field Hockey Complex.
The Chippewas then head over to Athens, Ohio to face the MAC-leading Bobcats (5-6, 3-0 Mid-American) on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Peggy Pruitt Field.
"This weekend is huge for us, because we can't afford to get too far behind in the standings," head coach Cristy Freese said. "We're in for two tough matches on the road. I don't care what Kent State's record is, it is going to be a tough match with the Flashes.
"Ohio has an advantage of not playing a match on Friday so we are going to be facing a fresh team. OU is a great offensive squad."
Saturday's match will showcase the league's top two offensive teams. CMU is manufacturing a league-best 2.45 goals per game while Ohio is at 1.91.
The Chippewas went 1-2 last week, splitting a pair of home league matches after falling to No. 9-ranked Michigan State earlier in the week in East Lansing.
CMU scored first against MSU but the Spartans responded with three goals in the second half for a 3-1 victory. Kelly Jordan scored unassisted for CMU's lone tally.
Miami then handed CMU its first overtime loss of the year and its first back-to-back setback with a 2-1 decision in OT on Friday.
"We let that one get away," Freese said. "You've got to give Miami credit for not giving up. Miami played hard until the end, scoring at the end of regulation and then winning it at the end of overtime. I was disappointed we didn't put it away because we knew Miami's goalkeeper (Kerri Orr) was one of the best in the MAC."
Samantha Sandham recorded CMU's goal off an assist from Erica Takach.
CMU responded to the back-to-back losses with a 3-2 victory over Ball State on Saturday. Sandham scored for the second consecutive match and Allyson Doan and freshman Amanda Lucik also notched markers. Alicia Balanesi was credited with the assist on the last two goals.
"We were able to score early in both halves and that really helped us out because our defense was sloppy," Freese said. "We're still trying to put a great offensive match and a great defensive match together this season.
"I challenged our offense and shook the forward line up a little and it worked for us. I honestly think this team is capable of scoring three goals every match."
Sandham was CMU's top offensive performer of the week with four points.
"We knew she has the ability to carry the ball," Freese commented. "She's only a freshman and we've got to get her to be more aggressive. When she does that it will really open the forwards up."
After this week, CMU steps back out of conference to play a pair of nationally ranked foes. The Chippewas host No.10-ranked Michigan State on Oct. 13 and travel to No. 9 Ohio State on Oct. 16.
Match Recaps
at No. 9 Michigan State 3, Central Michigan 1
CMU scored first and held the Spartans without a goal in the first half but the powerful MSU offense tallied three scores in the later half to earn the win. Kelly Jordan tacked an unassisted goal on the board to give CMU the early advantage. MSU had 19 shots compared to CMU's seven.
Miami 2, at Central Michigan 1 (OT)
CMU outshot the RedHawks 29-11, but the only thing that mattered was the 2-1 score with Miami eking out the overtime win. Miami tied the game with under four minutes left in regulation and then won it with under a minute left in overtime. Freshman Samantha Sandham scored CMU's only goal. The Chippewas also doubled up Miami in penalty corners, 16-8.
at Central Michigan 3, Ball State 2
The Chippewas responded from their first back-to-back losses of the season by pouncing on Ball State early en route to a 3-2 victory. Allyson Doan scored just 90 seconds into the match and CMU added another first-half goal by Samantha Sandham for an early 2-0 lead. The Cardinals got on the board just before the half but CMU struck again soon after the break for a comfortable cushion again. Freshman Amanda Lucik netted the first goal of her career for CMU's third tally. The Chippewas posted more than 20 shots for the second straight match with 22 compared to BSU's 13.
NOTES
Still Racking Up the Points: Alicia Balanesi accounted for two assists in the 3-2 win over Ball State, bumping up her point total to 19. She has seven goals and five assists on the season. She is the MAC leader in points and is tied for the top in goals per game (0.64).
One Away: Erica Takach added another assist to her resumé in the 2-1 overtime loss to Miami, giving her a team-high seven. She leads the MAC in assists with 0.64 per game. Takach needs just one assist to join the CMU top-10 season list with eight assists. She would be tied for 10th with four former Chippewas. Close behind Takach are Samantha Sandham with six assists and Alicia Balanesi with five.
Streaky: Kelly Jordan had a nice four-match point scoring streak going but it came to an end against Miami. She had tallied 10 points over the previous four matches, including four goals. The frosh posted a goal and assist against Vermont, two goals in the first Missouri State match, an assist in the second Missouri State meeting and CMU's lone goal against Michigan State. Her hot streak moved her into second on CMU's scoring list with 13 points. Her 1.18 points per game rank third in the league.
Career Firsts: Freshman Amanda Lucik recorded both the first goal and first assist of her career in the win over Ball State.
Danielle Leads Defense: Chippewa goalkeeper Danielle Frank bests all MAC keepers with her 2.12 goals against average. On the season, she has made 69 saves with a .742 save percentage.
Three, It's a Magic Number: The Chippewas are 4-0 when scoring three or more goals this season. CMU recorded wins over New Hampshire, Vermont and twice over Missouri State while posting at least a three-spot on the board.
Still Receiving Votes: The Chippewas received six votes in this week's STX/NFHCA Coaches Poll for an unofficial ranking of tied for 27th. MAC foe Ohio is also receiving six votes. This is the third straight week CMU has earned votes.
