Central Michigan University Athletics
Chippewas Play Twice at Missouri State
10/21/2008 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
MOUNT PLEASANT Fresh off defeating the defending Mid-American Conference champions, the Central Michigan field hockey team looks to move up in the league standings this weekend.
The Chippewas (4-10, 3-4 Mid-American) head to Springfield, Mo. for a pair of road matches against the Missouri State Bears. The first meeting is on Saturday at 10 a.m. and second match takes place on Sunday at noon.
At 3-4 in league play, Central sits a game behind the defending MAC champion Ohio Bobcats for third place in the standings. After beginning the conference slate 0-3, the Chippewas have won three of their last four league contests.
“We have been able to make some adjustments and get better defensively as the year has progressed,” head coach Cristy Freese said. “Early on, we were losing a lot of close games in league play and I think we are starting to find ways to win the same type of games.”
Missouri State is 6-10 this season and 1-5 in conference action. The Bears have lost six straight matches and fell into a last place tie with Ball State in the MAC following a 6-2 loss to the Cardinals last Sunday. Last weekend, Missouri State got outscored 14-2 in a pair of conference losses.
The Chippewas swept last season’s series with the Bears in Mount Pleasant, winning by scores of 3-1 and 4-1. Samantha Sandham totaled two goals and an assist in the two meetings a year ago.
“Missouri State is a dangerous team offensively,” Freese said. “I think the Bears are better than their record indicates and they will certainly present challenges defensively. It is tough to play the same team twice in as many days because you catch on to each other’s tendencies, but we do this every year against Missouri State.”
The Chippewas own a 16-10-1 advantage in 27 all-time meetings with the Bears.
CMU News and Notes
Getting Defensive The Chippewas are showing improvement on the backend. CMU has allowed two goals or less in four of its last six matches, a span that included its first shutout of the season last Sunday. Central held opponents to two goals or less only three times in its first eight matches, allowing 32 goals in that span (4.0 per match).
First Career Freshman midfielder Paulina Lee was Central’s most productive offensive player in a breakout performance last week. Lee registered a point in all three of the Chippewas’ matches as she scored her first career goal last Tuesday at Michigan, added another tally against MAC foe Kent State and registered her first career assist on the game-winner over Ohio last Sunday.
Going Streaking Samantha Sandham has been Central’s top offensive performer this year and she has improved as the year has gone on. Sandham was kept off the scoresheet in four of Central’s first six matches, totaling nine points. In the last eight contests, Sandham has put up at least one point in six of them for a total of 16 points in that span.
Curran’s Emergence After splitting time in between the pipes to begin the season, junior goalkeeper Melinda Curran has firmly entrenched herself atop the depth chart with her play recently. In her first five appearances (two starts), Curran was 0-2 with a 3.25 goals against average and .471 save percentage. In her past six starts, she is 3-3 with a 2.28 GAA, .708 save percentage and a shutout (the first of her collegiate career).
The Chippewas (4-10, 3-4 Mid-American) head to Springfield, Mo. for a pair of road matches against the Missouri State Bears. The first meeting is on Saturday at 10 a.m. and second match takes place on Sunday at noon.
At 3-4 in league play, Central sits a game behind the defending MAC champion Ohio Bobcats for third place in the standings. After beginning the conference slate 0-3, the Chippewas have won three of their last four league contests.
“We have been able to make some adjustments and get better defensively as the year has progressed,” head coach Cristy Freese said. “Early on, we were losing a lot of close games in league play and I think we are starting to find ways to win the same type of games.”
Missouri State is 6-10 this season and 1-5 in conference action. The Bears have lost six straight matches and fell into a last place tie with Ball State in the MAC following a 6-2 loss to the Cardinals last Sunday. Last weekend, Missouri State got outscored 14-2 in a pair of conference losses.
The Chippewas swept last season’s series with the Bears in Mount Pleasant, winning by scores of 3-1 and 4-1. Samantha Sandham totaled two goals and an assist in the two meetings a year ago.
“Missouri State is a dangerous team offensively,” Freese said. “I think the Bears are better than their record indicates and they will certainly present challenges defensively. It is tough to play the same team twice in as many days because you catch on to each other’s tendencies, but we do this every year against Missouri State.”
The Chippewas own a 16-10-1 advantage in 27 all-time meetings with the Bears.
CMU News and Notes
Getting Defensive The Chippewas are showing improvement on the backend. CMU has allowed two goals or less in four of its last six matches, a span that included its first shutout of the season last Sunday. Central held opponents to two goals or less only three times in its first eight matches, allowing 32 goals in that span (4.0 per match).
First Career Freshman midfielder Paulina Lee was Central’s most productive offensive player in a breakout performance last week. Lee registered a point in all three of the Chippewas’ matches as she scored her first career goal last Tuesday at Michigan, added another tally against MAC foe Kent State and registered her first career assist on the game-winner over Ohio last Sunday.
Going Streaking Samantha Sandham has been Central’s top offensive performer this year and she has improved as the year has gone on. Sandham was kept off the scoresheet in four of Central’s first six matches, totaling nine points. In the last eight contests, Sandham has put up at least one point in six of them for a total of 16 points in that span.
Curran’s Emergence After splitting time in between the pipes to begin the season, junior goalkeeper Melinda Curran has firmly entrenched herself atop the depth chart with her play recently. In her first five appearances (two starts), Curran was 0-2 with a 3.25 goals against average and .471 save percentage. In her past six starts, she is 3-3 with a 2.28 GAA, .708 save percentage and a shutout (the first of her collegiate career).
Field Hockey Chippewa Challenge
Monday, April 20
Kelly Terwilliger Sit Down with Adam Jaksa
Friday, April 10
Field Hockey vs Kent State
Sunday, October 19
Field Hockey vs Appalachian State
Friday, October 10