Central Michigan University Athletics
Chippewas Seek Second Straight MAC Tourney Title
11/3/2010 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
Miami Livestats | Soccer Insider | MAC Tournament Info
MOUNT PLEASANT — The Mid-American Conference division champions will face off when MAC West Co-Champion and No. 3 seed Central Michigan faces East Division Champion and No. 2 seed Miami in the MAC Tournament semifinal matchup on Friday in Toledo, Ohio, at 11 a.m.
The Chippewas enter the contest 14-4-1 overall on the season, while the RedHawks boast a 13-6-2 record overall.
CMU claimed it's second straight MAC West Division championship with a MAC-record 10 conference wins, becoming one of two teams to post a conference record 30 points this season. The Chippewas defeated No. 6 seed Northern Illinois, 2-1, in a first-round match at the CMU Soccer Complex.
The RedHawks claimed their second MAC regular season championship, their first since 2002, with a 5-2 win over Bowling Green last Thursday before defeating Akron, 2-1, in a first-round matchup on Sunday.
The Chippewas and RedHawks met earlier this season in Oxford, with CMU blanking MU, 2-0. Senior Jenna Hill and sophomore Charlese McLemore each scored in the win.
Senior goalkeeper Shay Mannino, who boasts the seventh-best goals against average (.431) in the nation, leads the CMU defense. The Grosse, Ile, Mich., native sports an 11-2-1 record on the season and played all 90 minutes between the pipes in this season's one matchup between Miami and Central Michigan.
Offensively, sophomore Laura Twidle has been a force all season for the Chippewas. Twidle scored her team-leading seventh goal of the season in CMU's 2-1 win over NIU in the first-round of the MAC tournament. Her four game-winning goals on the season tie her for the league lead with fellow teammate, junior Liesel Toth.
The RedHawks are led by the MAC's leading scorer in Jess Kodiak. The sophomore has recorded 24 points on the season on eight goals and eight assists. Kodiak's teammate, Kayla Zakrzewski leads the conference in assists with nine. The freshman midfielder is tied for 22nd in the nation in assists.
The winner of the match will meet the winner of the other semifinal match between No. 1 Toledo and No. 5 Western Michigan. The championship match is set for Sunday at 1 p.m.
Live stats can be followed for all of the MAC Tournament via UTRockets.com.
Game Notes
Seniors Success — Seniors Jenna Hill, Shay Mannino and Valerie Prause became the most successful class in Central Michigan women's soccer history with their 2-1 win over Northern Illinois in the first round of of the Mid-American Conference Tournament. The three players have accumulated 51 wins over their prestigious career with just 23 losses and seven ties for a .672 winning percentage.
Success Off the Pitch — Senior goalkeeper Shay Mannino and sophomore defender Bailey Brandon were named to the CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District IV third-team on Tuesday. Mannino sports a 3.82 GPA while majoring in secondary education with a focus in integrated science with a planned program minor. The honor is the third CoSIDA Academic honor that Mannino has earned in her career. Brandon boasts a perfect 4.0 grade-point average.
MAC Regular Season Record — The Chippewas earned their 10th conference win of the season last Thursday over Eastern Michigan, 3-0. The 10 wins are the most in conference history, setting a league record for wins (10) and points (30). With the win, the Chippewas claimed a share of their second-straight MAC regular season championship.
CMU Soccer Complex Streak at 23 — With no games remaining at the CMU Soccer Complex in Mt. Pleasant, Mich., the Chippewas unbeaten streak at home will extend into the 2011 season. CMU has not last at home since it's 1-0 loss to Toledo on Oct. 19, 2008.
Mannino Named Lowe's Senior CLASS Award Finalist — Shay Mannino is receiving national recognition during her final season. The Grosse, Ile, Mich., native is one of 10 NCAA Division I women's soccer players to be named a finalist to the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award. The award is for a senior with notable achievements in four areas of excellence — classroom, character, community and competition. Fans are encouraged to begin voting immediately through Nov. 14 via seniorCLASSaward.com.
