Central Michigan University Athletics
CMU Field Hockey Faces Must-Win at Miami
10/23/2015 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - Yes, it's been a struggle for the Central Michigan field hockey team for much of the season.
Yes, the Chippewas need some help in order to make the Mid-American Conference Tournament.
But, "the fact that we're 1-13 and still having a conversation about the tournament is really nice," first-year CMU coach Molly Pelowski said as she prepares her team for Saturday's MAC game at Miami (Ohio). "It's nice to even have a shot, but we're sort of relying on people to lose in order for us to get in.
"From that standpoint it's hard. We're still in the waiting room."
The Chippewas are 1-3 and in sixth place in the six-team league. Immediately ahead of them in the hunt for the fourth and final tournament berth are Missouri State and Longwood. Miami is 9-7, 3-1, and Saturday's game is a must-win for CMU if it hopes to keep alive its post-season aspirations.
CMU plays a non-league game at eighth-ranked Louisville, 10-5, on Sunday (1 p.m.), then closes the regular season at home on Friday, Oct. 30, against MAC foe Ball State.
"We're getting better every game and if we think about it in terms of the process of where we started until now, we've done a lot of good things that you just don't necessarily see on paper," Pelowski said. "Has it been a hard year? Yes. We've had a lot of challenges -- got a great group -- and nobody likes the record or the failure to achieve wins. But we've done a lot of good things here to prepare for the future.
"There are lots of things to look forward to."
The Chippewas are coming off a 4-0 loss to 11th-ranked Michigan in their home finale. In their previous game, they defeated Missouri State, 1-0, in double-overtime.
"We've really improved in so many areas it's hard to pick just one," Pelowski said. "We're playing better defense, we're moving the ball better. I think those are the two things that we've done better. Still need to figure out how to score goals so there's always going to be things to work on."
