Chippewas Soccer Team Looks for Turnaround on the Road

Oct. 2, 2014

Parker Scott, CMUchippewas.com

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. -- Central Michigan emerged from its first weekend of Mid-American Conference soccer play with two losses - but with plenty upon which to build.

"After watching film, there were some really good things we took from the weekend, especially Sunday," CMU senior Laura Gosse said. "We saw how well we can move around the ball, how we can possess the ball, and I think it's just the final pass that we have to get down in the final third to definitely create those opportunities."

After a 2-1 overtime loss on Friday to Northern Illinois and a 1-0 loss to Western Michigan on Sunday, the Chippewas, who are 2-7-1 overall, 0-2-0 MAC, will play two league road games this weekend. They go to Ball State (5-2-2, 1-1-0) on Friday, and to Miami (8-2-1, 1-1-0) on Sunday.

Western is the defending league tournament champion, Miami the defending MAC East champ, and those two teams, along with Ball State, made it at least as far as the league tournament semifinals last season.

With 18 goals, Ball State leads the MAC in scoring, while Miami (15) is tied for third. The Cardinals are tied for third in goals allowed (8), and the RedHawks are tied for fifth (9).

"I feel like we are carrying as much momentum as you can after not finding a result on Sunday," Coach Peter McGahey said. "We are always looking to polish or sharpen the saw,"

Only the top eight teams in the league will make the conference tournament. The Chippewas are sixth in the East.

"After reviewing the film, I thought our ball possession even against Western was very good," McGahey said. "But I think it's very good until the pass before the pass, the final ball, the pass that sets up the assist.

"We're continuing to polish the things that we do well, without overreacting to change."

Gosse remains the MAC's top scorer with six goals.

"If we train like how we want to play, we are going to have positive results," she said. "We know what we have to do this weekend."

Sophomore mid Eliza Van de Kerkhove agreed. "We have everything we need, we are just waiting for it to come out," she said.