Central Michigan University Athletics
Field Hockey Heads to MSU Seeking First Win
8/31/2016 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Cullen Maksimowski, CMUChippewas.com
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. — With the 2016 season now in full-swing, the Central Michigan field hockey team doesn't have time to dwell on the past.
After an 0-2 opening weekend, the Chippewas will travel to East Lansing Thursday for a non-conference matchup on Thursday with in-state rival Michigan State.
"The theme of the week is really going to be a sense of urgency and executing under pressure," CMU coach Molly Pelowski said. "Michigan State is a good team and we have to be better in pretty much every aspect the game."
The Spartans are 1-1 and are coming off a 9-2 victory over Villanova on Sunday. MSU opened with a 3-1 loss to Kent State. The Chippewas dropped two matches over the weekend in Vermont, 2-1 to Vermont and 2-0 to La Salle.
CMU goalkeeper Lily Amadio was named the Mid-American Conference Defensive Player of the Week for her performances in Vermont. The sophomore made 15 saves in her first two games in a Chippewa uniform.
"I'm expecting our team to step in there and fight for 70 minutes," Pelowski said. "I absolutely think we have an opportunity to win that game. It's going to come to us executing and playing as a team."
For Pelowski, Michigan State is a team she is very familiar with having spent six years (08-14) as an assistant coach with the Spartans before being named the Chippewas head coach before the 2015 season.
"There are some nuances (in the way they play) that I am aware of and there are some things that are different," Pelowski said. "When I coach, it's more about us then it is the about the opponent because at the end of the day it's my team that has to execute."
The Chippewas will host Quinnipiac for their home opener on Saturday, Sept. 3 (3 p.m.) at the Central Michigan Field Hockey Complex.
