Central Michigan University Athletics
Home Schedule Closes Sunday with Senior Day
10/14/2011 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Watch: Field Hockey Insider with Coach Freese and senior Brooke Sihota
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MOUNT PLEASANT - Central Michigan will play its final two home games of the 2011 season, hosting Miami Saturday and Ball State Sunday for senior day.
The Chippewas (5-7, 3-3 MAC) have been home for three weeks and close out a six-game homestand with Saturday's noon contest versus the Redhawks (5-10, 3-3 MAC) and Sunday's 1 p.m. contest versus the Cardinals (3-11, 3-3 MAC).
CMU vs. Miami
- Miami leads the all-time series, 34-27, and have won five straight
Last Meeting: Miami 2, Central Michigan 1 (Sept. 25)
Last Meeting in Mount Pleasant: Miami 3, Central Michigan 2 (Oct. 10, 2010)
CMU vs. Ball State
- Central Michigan trails the all-time series, 25-39, but has won the last two contests.
Last Meeting: Central Michigan 5, Ball State 1 (Sept. 24)
Last Meeting in Mount Pleasant: Ball State 3, Central Michigan 2 (OT) (Oct. 9, 2010)
Scouting the Redhawks
- Miami is 3-2 over its last five contests, including 2-1 wins over Central on Sept. 25 and Kent State on Oct. 1.
- Olivia Miller leads the Redhawks' offense, scoring nine goals on the season and tallying one assist for 19 total points. Miller is tied for fourth in the MAC in goals scored and ranks eighth overall in points.
- Sarah Mueller has played 1015:00 minutes in the cage for MU, allowing 34 goals for a goals-against average of 2.34. She posts a 5-9-0 record and has recorded two shutouts.
Scouting the Cardinals
- Ball State has won two of its last three contests, outscoring its opponents, 9-7.
- BSU features a balanced offense, with six players scoring two or more goals on the season. Sanne Hermans has led the way, scoring three goals and tallying six assists for 12 points. Devanny Kuhn leads the team with four goals.
- Haley Fusting and Chelsea Mitchell have split time in the cage for the Cardinals, allowing a combined 5.79 goals per contests, which ranks last in the MAC.
Senior Day
Central Michigan will honor senior co-captains Brooke Sihota and Paulina Lee prior to Sunday's contest. Sihota has started every game that she has appeared in during career and was a 2010 All-MAC selection. Lee, the 2011 Boyden Award winner, currently leads the Chippewas with six assists on the season.
Immelman's Impact
Cayleigh Immelman continues to make a strong case to become CMU's first MAC Freshman of the Year since Kim Erasmus in 2006. Immelman leads the Chippewas and all freshmen in the MAC with eight goals and 21 points.
Improved Defense
CMU's defense continues to be one of the best in the MAC, posting the second-best goals-against average at 1.71. The Chippewas have allowed just 21 goals in 12 contests after allowing 60 in 20 a year ago. The team's 1.71 goals allowed per game ranks 26th in the country among D-I programs.
They Can Score Too
CMU has also shown an improved offense in 2011 as well, scoring 2.5 goals per contest (31st in D-I). The Chippewas have already eclipsed their goals scored from 2010 (25) with 30 in 2011. A season ago, CMU had just two players with four goals or more, while this year they already have four with an additional four players having scored two goals.
Good to Be Home
Despite two losses last weekend, CMU is still 4-3 on the season at home and has outscored its opponents, 23-10. This weekend's matches mark the final two of the season and of a six-game homestand.
