Central Michigan University Athletics
First Win Gives CMU Field Hockey a Warm Feeling
10/16/2015 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - A blustery, chilly autumn afternoon felt like the 4th of July for Molly Pelowski.
"It's really, really cold, but it's 70 and sunny right here," Pelowski, CMU's first-year field hockey coach, said Friday through chattering teeth after her Chippewas topped Missouri State, 1-0, in double-overtime at the CMU Field Hockey Complex. "The first one's always fun. The girls gave me the game ball. It's going on my desk."
The win was CMU's first of the season and its first under Pelowski, who took over the program from longtime coach Cristy Freese before the season.
The win lifted CMU to 1-12 and 1-3 in the MAC and kept alive its hopes of a league-tournament berth. Missouri State, which came in on a three-game win streak, is 5-10, 2-2.
It was the breakthrough the Chippewas had sought all season, and it came on Senior Day, when seven Chippewas played their final regular-season MAC game at home.
"We were led by an awesome senior class today," Pelowski said. "It was really a special moment for all of us. To get the win for our seniors, who have gone through a ton to get us here, I'm just really happy."
Maude Stalars slapped home a rebound to give the Chippewas the emotional victory. Stalars' goal, her third of the season, came after a shot from Kaysie Gregory on a penalty corner was stopped by Missouri State goalkeeper Feli Heinzel. The rebound rolled around in traffic out front, and Stalars chipped it in, ending the game in the 93rd minute.
"I told Kaysie, 'When you're taking the shot, just get it on the frame and your friends are going to be there to put it in,'" Pelowski said. "Maude found the rebound."
Senior Sadie Lynn Reynolds made five saves in goal for the Chippewas, who were outshot 14-10, but held a 6-1 edge in shots in the second overtime.
The penalty corners were even at six aside, but CMU held a 3-1 advantage in that department in the second extra session.
"We got the win because we focused on the process of what we needed to do," Pelowski said. "That's what I told them before the game, that's what I told them in every timeout, and that's what I told them going into both overtimes.
"We focused on the process of what we needed to do to get here. The whole time we were staying in the fight. And it worked.
"Missouri State played a heck of a game. It was a fun game to coach. They played a great game, we played a great game. It was awesome."
The Chippewas will play their final regular-season home game on Sunday (noon) against 14th-ranked Michigan, Pelowski's alma mater.
