Chippewas Play Home Soccer Finale on Friday

Oct. 23, 2014

Parker Scott, CMUchippewas.com

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - The Central Michigan women's soccer team can make the Mid-American Conference Tournament.

But it can't afford any slipups in its final three regular-season games - all of which are against MAC foes -- if it hopes to play on.

The Chippewas play their home finale on Friday against Ohio (3 p.m.), then goes to Kent State on Sunday. CMU closes the regular season on Thursday, Oct. 30, at Toledo.

"Pressure gives good performances, and I think we're experienced enough now to understand the urgency that will be required," CMU coach Peter McGahey said. "You only control your own destiny as long as you're continuing to get the results."

The Chippewas are 4-11-1, 2-6 MAC. They share 11th place in the overall league standings with Akron. Six league teams have three wins apiece, meaning the Chippewas are within striking distance - but they need wins.

Two of those teams are on this weekend's docket in Ohio (3-5 in league play) and Kent State (3-3-2).

"You always want to be in control of your own fate and if you can start that game at home against a team that's trying to be in charge of their own fate too, that should bring the urgency that is required," McGahey said. "We're certainly looking forward to getting this last push to the playoffs started at home."

Friday's match with Ohio is the last at home for CMU seniors Laura Gosse, Jennifer Gassman and Emily Cooksey.

"It's very very weird," Gassman said. "This is my fifth year so it's even more strange. I think it's going to be emotional especially at the end, but I don't plan on really thinking about it until the end. I just want to leave it all out on the field for the team and for the program.

"We're really excited, especially as seniors we only have a limited amount of time left. I really want to make a big impact on the last couple games we have."

More important than the sentimentality that comes with the final home game for the seniors is the immediacy and the need for wins to keep alive the Chippewas' tournament hopes.

"They're extremely important for us to get into the tournament," Gassman said. "We want to win all three, but we also want to take one at a time."