Central Michigan University
Ohio
Chippewas Ousted from MAC Field Hockey Tournament
11/7/2014 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com
KENT, Ohio - Ohio outscored Central Michigan, 3-0, in the stroke-off Friday as the Bobcats ended the Chippewas' field hockey season in a Mid-American Conference Tournament semifinal game at Kent State's Murphy-Mellis Field.
"The team is disappointed," CMU coach Cristy Freese said after the 2-1 loss, "but I reminded them that we did some good things, that we have a MAC regular-season championship that we should be proud of."
The Chippewas finished 7-12 and went into the four-team tournament as the top seed. The Bobcats (6-10), who were seeded fourth, had handed CMU its only league loss, 3-2, in overtime, two weeks ago.
Lauryl Desch scored off a Caelyn Hartley assist in the 25th minute to stake Ohio to a 1-0 lead. Haley Bova tied it less than three minutes later off a Kianne Hinkle assist.
It was Bova's fourth goal of the season.
CMU goalkeeper Sadie Lynn Reynolds made 10 saves, while her Ohio counterpart, Brittany Walker, made four. Ohio outshot the Chippewas, 26-11, and finished with a 13-7 edge in penalty corners.
"I didn't think we were as quite as sharp as we have been and I don't know if that is about Ohio and how they played against us or what," Freese said. "You can always look back at it and look at things you could have done better.
"I don't think it was our best game, but I think Ohio played a very good game today."
The loss brought to an end a season that started 1-8 for CMU. The Chippewas won six of their final 10 starts, capturing their first MAC regular-season title since 2002, and earning the No. 1 seed in the MAC Tournament for the first time in school history.
CMU defeated Kent State, 2-1, a week ago to earn the league co-championship.
"I think from where we came in September and how we were able to go through the MAC regular season and do so well -- highlighted by that game against Kent, our team has a lot to be proud of," Freese said. "That they were able to stay with it through some of those bumps early in the season is really a testament to them, I think."
Ohio will play either Kent State or two-time defending tournament champion Miami (Ohio) on Saturday in the title game.
The Golden Flashes and RedHawks were scheduled to play their semifinal later on Friday.
