Central Michigan University Athletics
Chippewa Field Hockey Entertains UC Davis
9/17/2015 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - The Central Michigan field hockey team will welcome UC Davis on Friday, seeking its first win under first-year coach Molly Pelowski.
The Chippewas (0-6) and Aggies (3-6) will square off at 3 p.m. at the CMU Field Hockey Complex. The Chippewas are coming off a road trip to Northwestern, where they fell to the ninth-ranked Wildcats and to Drexel.
Pelowski said a consistent, 70-minute all-out effort has been the emphasis this week in the wake of the 5-1 loss to Drexel, in which all the scoring came in the second half.
"Well it absolutely starts with the coaching staff, we have to put a practice in place that demands effort but also is objective in what we're trying to accomplish," Pelowski said. "We're definitely feeling the pressure as coaches to make good on all the practice opportunities we have.
"That starts with us first and the next thing is a focused execution. It's not just about willy-nilly running, it's about running the right way. So there is a little bit of brains behind it, and that's the plan."
UC Davis is in the midst of a six-game road trip that began on Sept. 10 in Worchester, Mass., against Holy Cross. The Aggies fell at Northwestern, 6-2, on Wednesday and are 1-3 on the trip. They play at Michigan State on Sunday.
The Chippewas will play just one match this weekend, rather than the normal two, as they gear up to defend their Mid-American Confernence regular-season championship with their league opener next Friday at Longwood.
"The nice thing is we get to rest following this game on Friday leading into our first MAC game," Pelowski said. "So that's where the big benefit comes in, following the intensity. UC Davis has a long road trip, they've been on the road for awhile, so we need to capitalize on our opportunity here."
The No. 1 priority, Pelowski said, is for the Chippewas to maintain their focus and intensity for the entire 70-minute game. They have been able to do it for stretches throughout their previous six matches, but lapses have been back-breaking.
"It's crucial, no question," she said. "We have to execute. We know we're able to and now it's time to demonstrate it. It starts with the coaching staff and we're going to get it done and we're going to lead this team in the right direction."
