Central Michigan University Athletics
Homestand Continues with Visits from Ohio, Kent State
10/6/2011 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Watch: Field Hockey Insider with Coach Freese and Bailey McKeon
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MOUNT PLEASANT - The Central Michigan field hockey team can move into first place in the Mid-American Conference this weekend when it hosts Ohio Friday and Kent State Saturday.
The Chippewas (5-5, 3-1 MAC) are just a half a game back of the Bobcats (10-2, 3-0 MAC) who sit atop of the MAC and can jump OU with a win in Friday's 2 p.m. match. The Golden Flashes (4-8, 2-1 MAC) will visit the CMU Field Hockey Complex Saturday at 1 p.m.
Saturday also marks "Stick It To Cancer" Day, a part of Chippewas for a Cure. Fans are encouraged to wear pink to the contest in support of breast cancer awareness. Donations can be mad to the fund by clicking the link provided above.
CMU vs. The Opponent
- 24-37-1 all-time versus the Bobcats, but claimed a 2-1 victory (4-3 on penalty strokes) at home last season.
- 13-45 all-time versus Kent State and looking to snap a seven-game losing skid to the Golden Flashes
Scouting the Bobcats
- Ohio leads the MAC in nearly every statistical category, including scoring margin (2.53), scoring average (3.24), shutouts (5), goals-against average (0.70) and goals scored (46).
- Goalkeeper Jen McGiill has been one of the best in the country, posting the second best goals-against average among D-I goalkeepers, allowing just 0.65 per contest. She also leads the league in shutouts (4) and save percentage (.735).
- Offensively, Jessica Jue is tied for the lead league with 26 points, scoring seven goals and tallying 12 assists. Cathryn Altodoerffer leads the Bobcats with 10 goals.
- OU has been ranked as high as No. 15 in the country and has wins versus two ranked opponents: No. 8 American, 2-1, and No. 6 Ohio State, 2-1.
Scouting the Golden Flashes
- KSU has split its last four contests, most recently defeating Ball State, 4-1.
- Debbie Bell, the MAC leader in goals and points, leads the offense, scoring 12 of the team's 27 goals on the season. Rebecca Lee is the team's second-leading goal scorer with five.
- Jahna Jordan has spent every minute in the cage for the Golden Flashes, allowing 41 goals over 868:29 for a goals-against average 3.30. Kent has been outscored, 41-27, on the season.
Good To Be Home
Friday and Saturday's matches mark the third and fourth of six straight at home for CMU. The Chippewas are 4-1 at the CMU Field Hockey Complex this season, outscoring their opponents, 20-4.
In the Cage
Junior goalkeeper Anastasia Netto has turned herself into one of the best goalkeepers in the country, posting the 14th best goals-against average among Division I keepers. Netto has allowed just 1.49 goals per game, more than two better from a season ago, and ranks behind only Ohio's Jen McGill's 0.76 GAA.
Outstanding Offense
The Chippewas have already scored 27 goals in their first 10 games this season, eclipsing their 2010 mark of just 25 goals in 20 games. Their 2.70 goals per game ranks 25th among Division I programs.
Lend a Helping Hand
CMU has tallied 27 assists on its 27 goals in 2011, ranking 14th in the country in assists per game. The 27 assists is already five more than CMU had all of last season when they recorded just 1.1 per contest. Freshman Cayleigh Immelman and senior Paulina Lee lead the team with five apiece.
Offense Key to Success
The Chippewas have combined to score 24 goals in their five wins this season, scoring just three in their five losses. CMU has won 43 straight games when it scores three goals or more. The last loss in which CMU scored three goals or more came on Oct. 11, 2003 to Ball State, 4-3.
McKeon's Big Weekend
Sophomore Bailey McKeon scored her first four goals of the season last weekend in wins over Missouri State en route to earning MAC Offensive Player of the Week honors. McKeon got on the board Saturday before recording her first career hat trick in Sunday's 5-1 win. The sophomore is now tied for second on the team with four goals and 12 points.
