Central Michigan University
Missouri State
Chippewas Remain Unbeaten in MAC Field Hockey Race
10/17/2014 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - Senior Cayleigh Immelman scored with under five minutes remaining Friday to lift the Central Michigan field hockey team to a 3-2 Mid-American Conference victory over Missouri State.
The win kept the Chippewas unbeaten (4-0) in conference play and atop the league standings. It was CMU's fourth win in its last five starts. The Chippewas are 5-9 overall.
Missouri State is 3-12, 0-4. CMU plays a non-league game at Saint Louis on Sunday.
It was Immelman's team-high sixth goal of the season and her third game-winner, which leads the MAC.
She connected after a pass around the box from junior Kaysie Gregory.
"It was a tough game today against Missouri State," CMU coach Cristy Freese said. "We just need to continue to focus one game at a time, especially when we have a tough MAC game next week against Ohio."
CMU has two conference games remaining, both at home, against Ohio on Saturday, Oct. 25, and against Kent State one week later. The Chippewas and Kent State are the lone remaining unbeaten teams in conference play. The Flashes are 2-0 in the league heading into their game Saturday against Miami (Ohio).
Missouri State (3-12, 0-4) jumped to a 1-0 lead on a goal
sparked offense early with a goal from Andrea Soler Codina at the 16-minute, 28-second mark.
CMU answered with a goal from Gregory from the middle of the circle off a pass from Kianne Hinkle just over four minutes later. It was Gregory's fifth goal of the season.
The Bears regained the lead again early in the second half when Soler Corina scored again. Hinkle knotted it at 2-2 when she one-timed a rebound past Missouri State goalkeeper Megan Drew at the 49:34 mark.
Junior Sadie Lynn Reynolds made six saves in goal for CMU. The Chippewas outshot the Bears, 16-13, including 10-5 in the second half. The Chippewas also held an 11-8 edge in penalty corners, including 9-4 after halftime.
"We need to start playing our younger players," Freese said. "I anticipate making more subs or changing up the line up for next game."
