Central Michigan University Athletics
Field Hockey Heads to Northwestern for Two Matches
9/7/2005 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Sept. 7, 2005
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A Look at the Opponents
at Northwestern Wildcats
Friday, September 9
1 p.m. CDT
Thomas Sports Complex
Record: 2-1-0
Both wins are one-goal victories, including an overtime triumph versus Fairfield ...Meghan Small leads the team with three goals (seven points) ...Small was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week on Monday ...the Wildcats lead the all-time series, 6-2 ...NU won the last meeting, 5-3 in 2003, with Alicia Balanesi notching one of CMU's goals.
vs. Virginia Cavaliers
Saturday, September 10
1 p.m. CDT
Thomas Sports Complex
Record: 2-1-0
Katie Phillips leads the squad with four goals and Allison Flynn has added seven points ...one of the two victories was a 7-1 triumph over MAC foe Ball State ...UVA is coming off a 4-0 setback against Old Dominion ...GK Katherine Blair has allowed only five goals in three matches ...Virginia leads the all-time series, 3-0 ...last meeting came in 2001 with the Cavs posting a 7-1 victory in Ann Arbor.
MOUNT PLEASANT -- After a split during the opening weekend of the season, the Central Michigan University field hockey team (1-1, 0-0 Mid-American) hits the road again for another two-match weekend at one site. This weekend, the Chippewas head to Evanston, Ill. to take on host Northwestern and then Virginia.
The first contest features CMU against Northwestern on Friday, September 10. The Chippewas then face Virginia on Saturday, Sept. 11. Both matches are set for 1 p.m. CDT.
"We'll be facing a couple 2-1 teams and we are going to be challenged," head coach Cristy Freese said. "Both teams play in leagues that feature a high level of competition."
Playing teams from the Big Ten and Atlantic Coast conferences won't require a different style of play, but the tempo will be something CMU will have to get used to according to Freese.
"The style of play is similar to what we are used to seeing, but the pace of the game will be higher," she said. "The passing game is really the only difference in style in the college game and it depends on the talent you have. There are a few teams with talented, athletic players who can carry the ball quite a bit, while most schools need to rely on great passing."
CMU had a pair of players carry a majority of CMU's offensive load in the opening weekend of play as both Alicia Balanesi and Alisa Folk tallied three goals apiece in the two matches. The balanced approach is what Freese is looking for all season long.
"A team effort is how we like to structure our offense," she said. "We don't want to have the top individual goal scorer in the conference, but we'd like to be the top scoring team. Alicia and Alisa came through last weekend and we are counting on the center forwards for more scoring."
Although CMU dropped a 3-2 decision to Saint Louis and gave up another two goals in the 5-2 win over New Hampshire, the coaching staff was pleased with the defensive effort.
"Overall, we did a pretty good job on that end," Freese said. "We are strong up the middle with Kim Ferris and Laura Glaza but our outside backs are a little less experienced and communication was the big key. By the second match, we had one match worth of experience at a game pace and the communication improved."
Following the two weekend matches, CMU opens the home season on Tuesday, Sept. 13 with a match against Michigan (4 p.m.).
MAC Player of the Week - Junior Alicia Balanesi was named the Mid-American Conference Offensive Player of the Week on Monday after her seven-point, three-goal weekend. The forward tallied one goal in the season opener against Saint Louis and then two goals and an assist in the win over New Hampshire. Ohio keeper Jennifer Cote was named the Defensive Player of the Week.
Double Trouble -- CMU had a pair of players with a two-goal match in the win over New Hampshire. Both Alicia Balanesi and Alisa Folk found the back of the cage on two occasions.
High Scorers -- CMU's 3.50 goals per game average leads the MAC as no other league school has better than a 1.67 goals per game mark.
Top Guns -- Alicia Balanesi leads the conference in points per game with 3.50 while teammate Alisa Folk is second with 3.00. Erica Takach and Samantha Sandham are both tied for the MAC lead in assists per game with 1.00 each.
Racking Goals Up Quickly -- Alicia Balanesi's two goals in the win over New Hampshire matched her 2004 output from the entire season. Balanesi entered this season with seven career goals in her two previous years -- five as a freshman and two as a sophomore -- and through her first two games this year she has already tallied three goals.
Still an Offensive Weapon -- Erica Takach led the Chippewas in scoring last season with 10 goals and although she didn't find the back of the cage in the first two matches this year, she did set up her teammates. Takach posted a pair of assists, both coming in the New Hampshire match. That total almost matched her three helpers from last season.
Dandy Debut -- South African freshman Samantha Sandham has made quite a debut for the Chippewas, notching points in each of her first two matches in the Maroon and Gold. Sandham assisted on both goals in CMU's opener against Saint Louis and then snuck a goal past the keeper in the New Hampshire match. Her four points rank third on the team and her 2.00 points per game tie for third in the conference.
Last Line of Defense -- Junior goalkeeper Danielle Frank has played every minute in the cage for CMU so far this season. She's made eight saves against five goals allowed for a .615 save percentage.
