Central Michigan University Athletics
Chippewas Open MAC Play with 0-0 Draw at Akron
9/24/2011 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
Box Score
AKRON, Ohio - Central Michigan began its journey for its third-straight Mid-American Conference regular season title Friday evening by playing to 0-0 draw at FirstEnergy Stadium.
Despite holding advantages in both shots, 10-7, and corner kicks, 7-5, in the contest, the Chippewas (6-1-2, 0-0-1 MAC) were unable to find the back of the net through the 110 minutes of play. The match was the fourth overtime game the Maroon and Gold have played this season, as they are now 1-1-2 in such contests.
"Give credit to Akron, they played well tonight," head coach Neil Stafford said. "We didn't apply our game and we've got to be able to do that all the time, because this is going to be real difficult all season. No one wants CMU to win a third-straight MAC championship. We know its going to be difficult day in and day out and we have to be ready to fight every Friday and Sunday."
After scoring the game-winning goal in the 2-1 win at Wisconsin, senior Chelsi Abbott nearly did it again Friday with just 1:18 left in the game. A Zips (3-3-1, 0-0-1 MAC) foul set up a free kick by senior Liesel Toth, who found Abbott on the left side of the box. Abbott was able to get a head on the kick but her attempt hit the crossbar, keeping the game scoreless at the end of regulation.
Two more Akron fouls gave the Chippewas scoring chances in the first extra session, allowing Toth to take a shot that went high at 94 minute mark and set up a shot by Autumn Hawkins in the 99th minute that was blocked by the Zips.
CMU was awarded yet another free kick in the first minute of the second extra period, setting up a shot by the team's leading goal scorer, Laura Gosse, but her attempt was high. With less than 20 seconds to play, Claire Horton took back-to-back corner kicks, but the Chippewas were unable to score attempt a shot, allowing the game to end in the 0-0 tie.
Junior goalkeeper Stefanie Turner posted her second shutout of the season, making three saves in the contest. Turner came up with her biggest save of the contest in the 54th minute of the contest, diving to her left on a shot attempt by Akron's Ashley Hughes, who got free for a one-on-one opportunity.
The tie improves the Chippewas record versus MAC opponents over the last two-plus seasons to 19-2-3 in the regular season. They will return to action Sunday at 1 p.m. when they take on the Ohio Bobcats, winners of a 1-0 match versus Eastern Michigan in their MAC opener.
