Central Michigan University Athletics
CMU, Seeking First Victory, Entertains VCU on Friday
9/10/2014 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Anthony Rizzo, CMUChippewas.com
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - Central Michigan field hockey coach Cristy Freese says an intense practice environment is increasing her players' comfort level with each other, a development that she hopes will help as the Chippewas seek to solve breakdowns.
The Chippewas (0-4) are scheduled to face off against Virginia Commonwealth (1-2) on Friday at home, and then travel to Ann Arbor to play Providence (2-2) on Sunday.
CMU's margin of error is small because of the quality of its opponents. The Chippewas have lost to Duke, which was ranked fourth when the teams met, and to Michigan, which was ranked 17th. The Wolverines, who last week lost to No. 2 North Carolina and No. 11 Wake Forest, have fallen out of the top 20.
"We're playing such quality competition that when you make that mistake those teams will take advantage," she said.
The focus in practice this week, Freese said, has been on work inside the circle, on both ends.
"We had some good circle entries against Michigan, but we came up empty without a shot," she said. "From an offensive standpoint, we need to finish better; from a defensive standpoint, I think we need to be tougher and not allow some of the shots that we have been allowing.
"From a defensive and offensive standpoint, everything they are doing is in the circle. Defensively, we don't want to give the team penalty corners, so we must attack."
Freese said creating an "intense" practice atmosphere is one way the Chippewas can develop cohesiveness going forward.
"We talked to the team after last weekend, especially after Michigan, and asked the team if they were experiencing that much pressure at practice,'' she said. "There was a point at [Wednesday's] practice where our defensive circle was taking the ball out, and our offense had some light pressure. We stopped at that point and said that's another example, because in a game, when our defense tries to carry it through the middle of our own circle, the other team has taken it away every time and gotten a shot."
Another item the Chippewas have practiced this week is a smooth passing game, she said.
"We need to clean up little things like that, so we can get another chance in the circle or another shot, instead of their pressure forcing the ball off our sticks and out of the sideline," she said.
Freese said VCU is similar and skill and style to William & Mary, while Providence is experienced, deep and well coached. One of the Friars' two losses came to 15th-ranked Boston College, and they will, as has every CMU opponent to this point, present a strong challenge, Freese said.
And while it is important to factor in an opponent's strengths and weaknesses, Freese's top concern at this point is ironing out issues from the Chippewas' perspective.
"It's the coaching staff's job to watch Providence and see how we can adjust our team to be ready, but at this point, we don't need to get our team over-adjusted," she said.
