Central Michigan University Athletics
Central Michigan University
Miami (Ohio)
Soggy Success: Chippewas Win in OT
9/30/2016 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - Alexis Pelafas scored off a Savannah Beetcher assist in the second overtime period Friday, lifting the Central Michigan soccer team to a 1-0 Mid-American Conference victory over Miami (Ohio) at the CMU Soccer-Lacrosse Stadium.
The Chippewas improved to 10-1-0 overall, 2-1-0 MAC. Miami is 4-5-1, 1-1-1. The Chippewas play host to Ball State (8-2-1, 3-0-0) on Sunday at 1 p.m. in a MAC match. The Cardinals won, 3-1, at Eastern Michigan on Friday, extending their win streak to five games.
Friday's match was played in intermittent rain, which at times was heavy, that made footing and ball handling, for the goalkeepers, difficult.
The Chippewas controlled play for much of the night, and had the vast majority of the good scoring chances, but simply couldn't cash in until Pelafas' goal, her 11th of the season.
"What you find is if you have grit in you, weather tends to bring it out," CMU coach Peter McGahey said. "It's like a garden, sort of makes it blossom.
"It was a hard night to play. For a night here at home in a downpour that came on and off, I thought the home crowd, the home atmosphere, was tremendous and I think in overtime games sometimes having that extra fan support, that little bit of encouragement -- we really felt that energy as the game went on and on.
"I really thought the team showed good resolve and character, and I really thought that the fans on a stormy evening certainly gave us a boost."
Kristen Knutson made four saves in goal for the victory. Miami keeper Vic Maniaci made six saves.
The Chippewas outshot the RedHawks, 17-10, and held a 7-4 edge in shots on goal and a 5-3 advantage in corner kicks.
Pelafas entered the night tied for third nationally in total goals. Beetcher gained control just outside the box and fed Pelafas, who turned, fought off a defender, and blasted a shot past Mancini. It was Beetcher's team-leading fourth assist of the season.
"I thought we did an excellent job of staying true to who we are and we created a goal that is similar to other goals we scored this season," McGahey said. "The composure that the team had, to continue to play our game, to not get frustrated. I thought Miami had a good game plan, I thought they rode the game out really well.
"I think our identity is we're staying true to who we are, and I think that's the most important thing now to be consistent going forward, to be able to find that commitment, to find that character. I think we led with both our character and our grit tonight. I thought overall it was a really good performance."
