Chippewas Host Ohio in MAC Field Hockey Matchup

Oct. 24, 2014

Mary Walsh, CMUChippewas.com

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - Another league matchup, another step for the Central Michigan field hockey team.

The Chippewas will put their pefect Mid-American Conference record on the line Saturday (1 p.m.) with a home game against Ohio. CMU is 6-9 overall, 4-0 MAC. The Chippewas and Kent State are the lone remaining unbeatens in the league.

Kent State, which is 6-8, 3-0, plays two MAC home matches this week against Ball State (Saturday) and Longwood (Sunday). The Flashes visit CMU on Saturday, Nov. 1, in the regular-season finale.

"This game, Saturday, is the same as very other MAC game we've played," CMU coach Cristy Freese said in regards to the matchup with Ohio. "I told my team, right now, everyone in the conference has pressure on them."

The Chippewas have won five of their last six starts after a 1-8 start. The lone loss in that stretch came to No. 8 Northwestern, one of several ranked teams the Chippewas faced this season.

"Absolutely, I think the tough early schedule has prepared us for the MAC, for sure," said CMU junior goalkeeper Sadie Lynn Reynolds, who leads the league in save percentage (.725), total saves (124) and saves per game (8.27). "It feels great to be on top. We hope to keep it going."

The Chippewas are led, statistically, by senior forward Cayleigh Immelman and junior mid Kaysie Gregory. Immelman is tied for sixth in the MAC in goals (6), seventh in shots (35) and shots per game (2.33), and eighth in points (13). Gregory is sixth in points (15), tied for fifth in assists (5), and tied for 10th in goals (5).

Ohio, 3-9, 2-2, has lost six of its last seven starts. The lone win in that stretch came over Ball State, 5-3.

"We know Ohio is a very tough opponent." Freese said. "I just want our team to stay focused and ready to play."

On Sunday, the Chippewas will go to Michigan State for a non-conference game. The Spartans (8-7) are ranked 19th. The matchup falls in line with several other non-leaguers the Chippewas have played this season, including contests with Stanford (ranked fourth), Duke (sixth) and Michigan (seventh).