Central Michigan University Athletics
Soccer Kicks Off MAC Play at NIU, Western
9/22/2016 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
Cullen Maksimowski, CMUChippewas.com
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. — The statistics speak for themselves. The Central Michigan soccer team is pretty good.
After a 1-0 victory at home over Oakland last Sunday, in which they set the record for the best start in program history, The Chippewas (8-0-0) are one of just three NCAA Division I programs without a loss or a tie this season.
They rank No. 30 in the country in RPI (Rating Percentage Index), the highest ranking of any team from a mid-major conference, and are ranked eighth in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Great Lakes Region poll. The seven teams ahead of the Chippewas are all in the Big Ten.
Central Michigan is set open its Mid-American Conference schedule on the road this weekend with a Friday game (7:30 p.m.) against Northern Illinois followed by a matchup with defending MAC-Tournament champion Western Michigan on Sunday (1 p.m.). The Huskies are 1-4-2; the Broncos are 6-2 and ranked ninth in the Great Lakes Region poll.
"I just think it's really important for us to understand who we are right now," CMU coach Peter McGahey said. "The reality as we head into the conference season, we need to focus on the now.
"There is so much of this season left to write, we need to focus on maintaining our identity and growing a little bit at a time because I truly believe that this team's best soccer is yet to come."
The Chippewas have been dominant in nearly every facet of the game through their first eight games of non-conference competition, outscoring opponents, 17-4, with four shutouts.
McGahey admitted that his team's offensive prowess has exceeded the level he had envisioned. The Chippewas' goal total is three shy of the 22 they scored a year ago. And they're not yet halfway through the regular season. CMU scored 17 goals in 2013, McGahey's first season, and 18 in 2014.
"I don't know if we scored 19 goals all of last season, so we are already getting near a point where we've hit a ceiling in the past," he said. "It's been this way in the past and I've seen it as teams grow, we're understanding who we are and understanding how we have to defend and how we have to attack. Having a team embrace that identity that's been the key."
Sophomore forward Alexis Pelafas leads the MAC and is tied for second in the nation with nine goals, while Madison Pogarch, Jamie Rademacher and McKay Matheson share the league lead in assists with three apiece.
Senior goalkeeper Kristen Knutson, the MAC Defensive Player of the Week last week for the second time this season, ranks No. 1 in the conference in goals against average (0.39), save percentage (.900) and shutouts (4).
