Central Michigan University Athletics
Sandham Scores Two
10/7/2006 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Box Score
MOUNT PLEASANT – Samantha Sandham scored two goals to lift the Chippewas to their first Mid-American Conference victory. The Central Michigan field hockey team defeated Kent State (4-9, 1-3) in a 2-1 overtime match, on Saturday.
“All week we had emphasized to the team that they must have their sticks down,” said head coach Cristy Freese. “Sam was able to score her second goal because she was ready, with her stick down, in front of the goal to tip it in.”
CMU (6-6, 1-3) controlled the momentum of the match throughout the first half, even though the scoreboard showed differently. Kent State’s Kate Perry put in her eighth goal of the season to put the Golden Flashes up, 1-0, in the sixth minute of the match. The Chippewas put 12 shots on goal to the Golden Flashes three in the first half, unable to execute a goal.
“At half time I showed the team the scoreboard, and how we were controlling the game, but had not scored,” said Freese. “We were playing to passive, while Kent State had tenacity in the circle. I knew we didn’t need to make up new plays, we just needed to execute ours.”
The Chippewas continued to add pressure in the second half, having six shots on goal and five penalty corners. CMU tied the match up, 1-1, when Sandham made a defensive tackle on the left side of the field. She came up with the ball and carried it to the top of the circle and blasted a shot into the left corner of the cage. With 12 minutes remaining in the game both teams took turns firing shots to win the game with no prevail.
“It was the small little things that got it done,” said Freese. “Sam had her stick down and was able to come up with the defensive tackle and took the hard shot in the circle. Kristen Palinski also came up with some interceptions when she would step up to the ball.”
CMU went into overtime for the fourth time this season and scored the game-winning goal in the fifth minute of play. Kelly Jordan began an offensive run for the Chippewas when she beat two defenders in an attempt to slip a pass to teammate Sandham. Jordan was unsuccessful, losing the ball to a defender. Two minutes later Jordan would again carry the ball into Kent States defensive circle and beat her final defender to slip a pass to Sandham, who was prepared with her stick down just below the stroke mark, for the game-winning goal.
“The right people had the ball in overtime, we had our best players for the situation,” said Freese. “Kelly had the ball and was stopped the play before and knew that in her second attempt she had to make a bigger move and get it into that space for Sam.”
The Chippewas will travel to the University of Michigan to match-up with the Wolverines on Tuesday, October 10, at 4 p.m.
