Central Michigan University Athletics
Central Michigan University
3-4
Robert Morris
3-5
Second-Half Stumble Costly To CMU Lacrosse
3/27/2016 12:00:00 AM | Lacrosse
Zach Libby, CMUChippewas.com
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - Central Michigan women's lacrosse coach Sara Tisdale understands that her first-year program is only seven games into the season, but her frustrated expressions on the sidelines at times indicated that she expects better from her band of underclassmen.
That means not allowing six straight goals in the opening minutes to an opponent, Robert Morris, that entered Sunday's game at the CMU lacrosse-soccer stadium 1-4 on the road this season. And that means not getting too comfortable and giving up a two-goal lead midway through the second half after going on a 12-4 run.
Sunday was an opportunity for the Chippewas to make a statement by coming out of non-conference play with a winning record and remaining undefeated at home, where back-to-back victories over Delaware State and Virginia Commonwealth was perhaps a sign that CMU can compete with the veterans of Division I.
The Colonials outscored CMU, 9-2, over the final 21-plus minutes Sunday in handing the Chippewas a 19-14 loss. CMU is 3-4. Robert Morris improved to 3-5.
"It was a tough one," Tisdale said. "I think the good thing is that we showed that we can compete and we can come back from deficits, but we're just struggling in that second half still and really (with) just keeping that energy the same throughout."
The second half saw significant drops statistically in major categories for Central Michigan, including shots on goal and ground balls. CMU took a total of 22 shots, but only eight came in the second half.
Jocelyn Lemay scored a game-high five goals, upping her season total to 17, to lead the Chippewas. Summer Abdalla added four goals and two assists, and Natalie Bloniarz had two goals.
"Jocelyn played great today," Tisdale said. "I also think Natalie played the best game we've seen her play so far, which is great. We just need people to step up and be able to fill some of those gaps that we're still looking for."
Central Michigan struggled to defend Robert Morris' style of attack, which was a motor of endless aggression that the Chippewas were unable to reciprocate.
The Colonials notched seven goals when forcing a player to cut towards the crease to create open-lane passes to behind the net. They also took advantage of free position shots, scoring on four of their 10 chances.
"For us, it was just a matter of overstretching and we just lost our marks," Tisdale said. "We stopped communicating, we kind of got complacent. But when we were playing our best, we were communicating, we were sliding, we were anticipating and then we went into a reactive, almost step-behind kind of defense."
Errors on the defensive end led to a long and tedious afternoon for CMU goalkeeper Dominique Hamman, who recorded nine saves, but was left alone without help more one than once.
"When Dom was assertive in the first half, that's when we were playing our best lacrosse," Tisdale said. "So it's just a matter of continuing to stay up on the defensive end."
Central Michigan held a 21-20 edge in ground balls, while Robert Morris controlled 20 draws to the Chippewas' 13. CMU cleared at 100 percent (14-for-14) on the day.
"Clearing was great and to clear at a 100 percent rate was great," Tisdale said. "Where we got a little bit lazy was on the backside of that and we needed to be able to make a decision whether to go into a fastbreak situation or pull it out, which will come with experience."
The Chippewas go to Detroit on Wednesday for their Atlantic Sun opener. Detroit, which defeated Robert Morris, 5-4, on Friday, is 4-4.
