Central Michigan University Athletics
Chippewas Play Host to Longwood in MAC Field Hockey Matchup
10/4/2014 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Anthony Rizzo, CMUChippewas.com
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - A rugged early season schedule is beginning to pay dividends for the Central Michigan field hockey team.
The Chippewas are 2-8 overall, but 1-0 in the Mid-American Conference going into Sunday's league home game with Longwood (4-7, 1-2).
CMU is coming off a shutout victory in its MAC opener at Ball State last week. The Lancers, winless on the road this season, are coming off an 8-1 non-conference loss to Liberty.
The Chippewas, coach Cristy Freese said, aren't so concerned about who lines up opposite them.
"Our players need to focus on what we need to do," she said. "I told them, `Let's make one assumption; let's assume that Longwood is better than Ball State.'"
The Chippewas have scored five goals in their last two games after scoring five in their first eight contests of the season.
Part of that production increase could be due to personnel moves, including putting junior Kaysie Gregory was moved to forward, Freese said. Gregory scored both goals in CMU's win over Ball State last week and was named the MAC Offensive Player of the Week.
"Kaysie has been playing midfield for us during her first two years, so we made some adjustments and moved Cayleigh [Immelman] to the midfield, which has been a huge plus," Freese said. "Immelman can really pass and move the ball up, and Kaysie is really effective in the circle."
Sunday's match will be CMU's first at home since Sept. 12. Freese said that while it is nice to be home, there isn't much of a "home-field advantage" in college field hockey.
"Sometimes I like being on the road and having (the players) all together on the bus," she said. "It won't be good for us if we're too relaxed at home. We need to focus and take advantage of mistakes like we did last weekend."
Freese said this weekend is expected to be a much different matchup for CMU as opposed to the matchup with Ball State last weekend. Longwood will move the ball around on the outside more than did the Cardinals.
"I think they'll want to bring the ball around the back more," she said. "Ball State really just hit the ball forward, and we just made sure someone was in position to intercept the ball."
The Chippewas are one of four MAC teams 1-0 heading into weekend play. Kent State, Miami (Ohio) and Ohio are the others. Sunday's match is the first of three consecutive at home for CMU. Miami comes to Mount Pleasant on Friday, Oct. 10; two days later, the Chippewas entertain 11th-ranked Northwestern in a non-league game.
