Central Michigan University Athletics
Chippewas Ready to Open 2005 Regular Season
8/25/2005 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
Aug. 25, 2005
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CMU Soccer This Week
at Illinois State Redbirds (0-0-0)
Friday, August 26
3:30 p.m. CDT
Adelaide Street Field
Season-opener for both squads ... CMU leads all-time series 2-1-0 ... CMU beat ISU 3-1 in '04 ... D Kanisha Campbell anchors ISU back line.
vs. Valparaiso Crusaders (0-0-0)
Sunday, August 28
1 p.m. EDT
CMU Soccer Complex
CMU leads all-time series 2-1-0 ... Valpo beat CMU 1-0 in '04 ... MF Allison Swanson led team with 6 G in '04 ... GK Erin Murray posted six SHO.
MOUNT PLEASANT -- After two-plus weeks of training camp and an offseason spent thinking of what might have been, the Central Michigan University women's soccer team hits the field for its first two regular-season games this weekend. The Chippewas kick off the 2005 season with a pair of non-conference games at Illinois State on Friday, Aug. 26 and versus Valparaiso on Sunday, Aug. 28.
The Chippewas' game against the Redbirds on Friday will be their first game since losing in the Mid-American Conference championship game, 2-0, to Bowling Green. CMU head coach Tony DiTucci has his team focusing on overcoming the disappointment by ensuring that this season doesn't end the same way.
"We come into this year with a greater sense of purpose, and our focus is really crystallized around that game," DiTucci said. "We're striving for consistency, both within each game and from game to game as the season rolls along. We want our players to make a statement about what kind of a team we're going to be right out of the gate."
CMU returns seven starters from last season, including All-MAC selections Rosamaria Rago (first team), Jacquie Lacek (second team) and Anne Decker (second team). A total of 10 letterwinners are back to join eight newcomers in forming what may be the deepest and most talented team the CMU women's soccer program has ever fielded.
"We're a very fit and athletic team, which are both areas of strength for us this year," DiTucci said. "In addition, we have such a versatile team that I feel we are going to be able to do some different things to take advantage of that fact. We will have flexibility to change formations during a game, to deal with injuries and to use players at multiple positions to get the best out of the eleven players we put on the field. We can turn to anyone on our team and ask them to help us win on a particular day."
CMU's first test of that versatility will come Friday, Aug. 26 when it travels to play Illinois State.
"Illinois State is a good team that always has given us a good fight," DiTucci said. "The match should be very challenging and provide a good early test for us."
The Chippewas will return for their home opener at the CMU Soccer Complex on Sunday, Aug. 28 when they will host Valparaiso starting at 1 p.m.
"We were disappointed in our match with Valpo last year (a 1-0 loss), and it left a bad taste in our mouths," DiTucci said. "We're looking forward to playing Valpo here in Mount Pleasant while we're healthy and fresh."
Net Worth: Junior goalie Anne Decker is well on her way to rewriting the record book for goaltending at CMU. Her eight shutouts in 2004 broke her own single-season record, and she is already the career-leader in shutouts (14) after only two full seasons. She is second in wins (18), nine behind Beth Quiney (27). And, her 1.15 goals-against average would be good enough to put her on top in that category also.
Lacek 'em Up: Junior forward Jacquie Lacek is etching her name into the record book as well. Her 14 career goals and 35 career points rank her third in both categories. Lacek trails only Emilie VilleMonte (22 G, 50 PT) and Allison Campbell (24 G, 61 PT). Her 10 goals and 23 points in 2004 were also the third-best single-season marks in their respective categories.
For Starters: CMU is looking to snap a five-match losing streak in season-openers when it faces off with Illinois State. The Chippewas haven't gotten out of the gate with a victory since a 5-0 win over Loyola-Chicago to kick off the 1999 season. Last year, CMU dropped its opener to DePaul as part of the CMU Invitational, 3-0.
Home, Sweet Home: When they return to Mount Pleasant to face Valparaiso in the home opener on Sunday, the Chippewas will try and find the same kind of success on their home field that they enjoyed at the end of last season. CMU lost its first two home matches as part of the CMU Invitational, but went 5-0-1 in its last six home contests, allowing a grand total of just one goal during that stretch.
Hi, My Name Is ... : Eight new players will put on a CMU uniform for the first time this weekend. The team has had time during the preseason to start to learn about themselves, and they are making progress. Said head coach Tony DiTucci, "We were able to use the preseason to find out who we are and what our strengths are as a team, and we feel confident that we will be able to play to those strengths as we take the field to open the regular season."
What a Stretch!: The Chippewas hallmark in 2004 was defense, and during the middle of the season they set a school-record for stinginess. CMU put together a scoreless streak of 669:30, including six straight shutouts. The streak stretched across parts of eight consecutive games, beginning in the match versus Buffalo on Sept. 19 and continuing through the match against Marshall on Oct. 17. CMU's record in those eight matches was 5-1-2.
New York, New York: CMU's soccer team has strong connections with the Empire State, as six players and Coach DiTucci all hail from New York state. Four of the new Chippewas - D Kylie Armstrong, MF/F Katy Boggan, GK Kristen Hubright and MF Carly Tydings - are from New York, as are returning players D Laura Gaesser and F Jacquie Lacek. DiTucci spent five years coaching in New York before coming to Central Michigan University in 2002.
Free Kicks
- CMU is 2-6-2 all-time in games played in the month of August
- CMU is 3-4 all-time in home openers, with its last such win coming in 2003 vs. Buffalo (3-0)
- The Chippewas have never played a game on either August 26 or August 28
- In non-conference play, CMU has a 20-24-5 record all-time
- CMU posted a record of 4-2 in games decided by one goal in 2004
- CMU allowed one goal or less in 12 of 21 games in 2004
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