Central Michigan University
Miami (Ohio)
Field Hockey Claims MAC Tournament Title
11/5/2005 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Nov. 5, 2005
MOUNT PLEASANT - A hat-trick performance by freshman Kelly Jordan gave the Central Michigan University field hockey team just its second Mid-American Conference Tournament title as it defeated Miami University in the finals at the CMU Field Hockey Complex on Saturday, 3-1.
The Chippewas' first title came in 1990. CMU, the No. 4 seed in the tournament, elevates its record to 11-11 while Miami, the No. 3 seed, ends its season at 10-12.
The Chippewas advance to a play-in game with Boston University, the America East Conference champion, for a bid to the 16-team NCAA Championships. CMU travels to Cambridge, Mass., on Tuesday, Nov. 8, to play at Jack Barry Field, located on the Massachusetts Institute of Technology campus.
CMU head coach Cristy Freese and the Chippewas were elated to win the tournament title.
"This championship is so special because we won it at home in front of our fans," Freese said. "I'm very proud of the leadership of our senior class. They've always supported the coaches and this program. Ever since the loss to Ball State (in the regular season), they've really wanted to turn things around.
"The difference in the game was our offensive execution," Freese said. "Miami came out with a lot of energy, but we performed well on both sides of the ball. I was worried (prior to the game) because Miami was undefeated on our field, but we were happy to have all our fans here at the game."
Kelly Jordan tallied her first career hat trick in the victory.  | |
"Kelly came up huge for us today in a championship setting," Freese said. "That's the type of scorer she is."
The Chippewas opened the scoring when Jordan hit a one-timer from five yards out off a pass by Alisa Folk in the 13th minute. Then, in the 26th minute, Jordan thieved a pass from a RedHawk defender and blasted a hard shot just inside the circle past Miami keeper Kerri Orr. The goal was unassisted.
Miami scored its lone goal on a penalty corner just as the first half ended. Taylor Florence tallied the goal with assists from Keri von Kalinowski and Alyssa Nye.
The third goal of Jordan's hat-trick performance came in the 53rd minute. She tipped in a rebound off her own shot to seal the Chippewa victory. Both teams were even with nine shots each, but the RedHawks edged the Chippewas in penalty corners, 6-2.
Danielle Frank allowed just one goal in the three MAC tournament games and was named to the All-Tournament team. | |
Four Chippewas earned spots on the MAC All-Tournament Team. They were Glaza, Folk, Frank and Jordan. Freese was pleased with the entire weekend tournament performance of the four Chippewa honorees.
"Alisa Folk made several pass interceptions on defense and set us up on offense," Freese said. "Laura Glaza has been our real solid defensive player as our sweeper, and she made a really big defensive save today for us. Danielle Frank is a very good keeper. She was very determined in the tournament and came up big in every game. Kelly Jordan is just a player who scores goals for us. She has a great shot."
Other players who earned MAC All-Tournament team honors were: Jennifer Cote, Ohio; Lindsay Rothenberger, Ohio; Linz Markwart, Kent State; Charlotte Muller, Kent State; Courtney Fretz, Miami; Teja Kammler, Miami; and Kerri Orr, Miami.
