Central Michigan University Athletics
Central Michigan University
Duke
Chippewas Fall to 4th-Ranked Duke
8/31/2014 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Two games, same result.
But a full 70-minute effort, one that Central Michigan field hockey coach Cristy Freese will happily take as her Chippewas move through a rugged pre-Mid-American Conference schedule.
Fourth-ranked Duke topped the Chippewas, 4-1, Sunday at Michigan State's Ralph Young Field. The result came two days after CMU opened the season with a 4-0 loss at home to Maine.
The Chippewas found themselves in a 4-0 hole against Maine on Friday, then turned in a much better effort in shutting out the Black Bears in the final 35 minutes.
"I felt like we played both halves this time," CMU coach Cristy Freese said after Sunday's match. "We felt we played a good second half against Maine. Against a quality opponent in Duke it was nice to get a goal, especially in the first half."
Mary Moore scored for the Chippewas with four minutes left in the first half, cutting the Blue Devils' lead to 2-1. Duke went up 3-1 on a goal by Hunter Bracale 4 minutes, 4 seconds into the second half, and added an insurance goal about 14 minutes later.
Moore's goal was assisted by Maude Stalars. Jessica Buttinger scored twice for the Blue Devils (2-0).
Duke outshot the Chippewas, 29-6, and held CMU to one shot in the second half. Duke also had 13 penalty corners to CMU's three, but the Blue Devils failed to score on any of them.
CMU junior goalkeeper Sadie Lynn Reynolds posted 16 saves.
"I loved Sadie's attitude this whole weekend," Freese said. "The whole team did. What you saw in goal with Sadie was a mature goalkeeper. She competed the whole time, she didn't let anything get her down, and she kept working with our defense."
While the Chippewas improved from first half to second in Friday's match, and overall from Friday's match to Sunday's, Freese said there is plenty of work ahead.
Sunday's match was evidence of that, she said.
"As a team we've made some turnovers in our defensive end that have created goals for the other team," Freese said. "We've got to continue to get better so we're not making those turnovers in our defensive end. They didn't score on corners, so we're doing some good things in that area, which is always a plus.
"We do feel like we moved forward from Friday's game to (Sunday's) game. Friday we were still searching for our identity and our lineup. Today we were really able to establish that lineup. I think our players see we're moving forward, taking positive steps.
"Next step is to clean up some of the mental mistakes and cut down on the turnovers."
The Chippewas play two matches at Michigan's Phyllis Ocker Field next weekend. On Friday, they'll take on William & Mary (0-2), and on Sunday, they'll play the host Wolverines (0-2-1). Both games begin at 2 p.m.
