Central Michigan University
Michigan
Chippewas Bow to 14th-Ranked Michigan
10/18/2015 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - The Central Michigan field hockey team was good, at times, Sunday in its non-league matchup with Michigan at the Central Michigan Field Hockey Complex.
But against the No. 14-ranked team in the country, the Chippewas needed more. As it was, the Wolverines handed CMU a 4-0 loss in the Chippewas' home finale.
CMU (1-13) goes on the road for its final three regular-season games, beginning next Saturday at Miami (Ohio).
"Today we were able to change some shapes in the mid-field, we were able to do some different things, we played much better in the second half," CMU coach Molly Pelowski said. "We did have our chances and we didn't execute. What we have to clean up this week, we've got to play better defense, we have to start with our first touch being cleaner technically.
"We were playing against a very good team and we went toe-to-toe for a little while. They're fast, they play fast. They were able to really bog down our attack through the middle of the field I think because our first touch was pretty slow.
"Happy with some things that I saw today. We know what we have to work on headed into our game against Miami on Saturday."
The Chippewas failed to register a shot against the Wolverines (13-3), who collected 11 shots. CMU goalkeeper Sadie Lynn Reynolds made five saves.
Michigan, which led 3-0 at halftime, held an 8-2 edge in penalty corners.
The Chippewas were two days removed from their first victory of the season, a 1-0 double-overtime Mid-American Conference win over Missouri State.
CMU is 1-3 in the MAC and could still make the league tournament field, but the Chippewas must win their final two league games.
"It shows what was there all along," Pelowski said, reflecting on Friday's win. "We have the talent. We have to start believing in the strengths that we have and start utilizing them.
"We've got to get a little bit of a swagger and I think we're starting to see that we do and when we play our game and we come out and we're ready to light our hair on fire, we can do some good things. But we have to do it."
