Central Michigan University Athletics
Central Michigan University
Eastern Michigan
Chippewas Drop MAC Soccer Match at EMU
10/12/2014 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
Parker Scott, CMUchippewas.com
YSPILANTI, Mich. -- Eastern Michigan scored both goals during an 18-minute span of the first half Sunday, handing Central Michigan a 2-0 loss in a Mid-American Conference women's soccer match at Scicluna Field.
The loss came on the heels of CMU's 1-0 double-overtime MAC win Friday at Ball State, and leaves the Chippewas 3-10-1 overall, 1-5-0 MAC. EMU is 8-4-1 and leads the MAC West at 4-2.
With five conference matches remaining, including the next three at home, the Chippewas need to make a late-season push in order to qualify for the MAC Tournament.
"We can't hit anymore more hurdles," CMU coach Peter McGahey said. "Our margin for error now is really small. We really need to make sure we're performing and we're ready and capitalizing on these next three games at home."
The Chippewas entertain Buffalo on Friday, Oct. 17, and Akron on Sunday, Oct. 19. The Bulls are 8-2-3 and lead the MAC East at 4-0-2. Akron is 6-7-1, 2-4-0.
Chelsie Oddan scored at the 20-minute, 7-second mark to give EMU a 1-0 lead on the Chippewas on Sunday. Megan Trapp scored on a header off a corner kick at 37:56 to complete the scoring.
Megan McCabe made three saves in goal for Eastern. Sophomore Heather Laeufer, making her second consecutive start in goal for CMU, posted two saves.
"I thought Heather's performance was solid," McGahey said. "I thought she did a respectable job building on her performance from Friday."
Eastern Michigan held a 10-8 advantage in shots and a 4-3 edge in corner kicks. In the second half, the shots were 5-5 as CMU had three corners to none for the Eagles.
"I thought in the second half we were the far better initiators of the play, I thought we really created some pretty good chances," McGahey said. "Unfortunately we had conceded too many in the first half. We made the mountain too big for us to climb over."
Senior mid Emily Cooksey had a team-high three shots while playing just 45 minutes, while Laura Gosse had two shots.
"Overall we're playing good, we're ball possessing, we're making adjustments, and we're creating chances," McGahey said. "We've just got to find ways to punch that ball through and make other team's hills bigger." The Chippewas will host Buffalo University on Friday, Oct. 17, at 4 p.m. They will then stay at home and match up against Akron University on Sunday, Oct. 19, at 1 p.m.
