Central Michigan University Athletics
Central Michigan University
Michigan State
Chippewas Upend Michigan State, Remain Undefeated
9/4/2016 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
Cullen Maksimowski, CMUChippewas.com
EAST LANSING, Mich. — Alexis Pelafas scored her seventh goal of the season Sunday as the Central Michigan soccer team defeated Michigan State, 2-1, in a non-conference match at the Spartans' DeMartin Stadium.
The Chippewas remain perfect, 5-0-0 to open the season, their best start since they started 7-0-0 in 2007. It marked just the second time the Chippewas have beaten MSU in the regular season. The first? 2007.
"I think we just had another very gritty performance from our team today," fourth-year CMU coach Peter McGahey said. "I think we were rewarded again for another tough week of practice and doing things that we set out to do."
Senior goalkeeper Kristen Knutson made three saves for the victory. Jamie Rademacher scored in the fifth minute off an Madison Pogarch assist to put CMU up 1-0.
Pelafas, a sophomore from Wheaton, Ill., scored in the 34th minute off a Samantha Maher assist. It was the seventh goal of the season for Pelafas, who leads the Mid-American Conference in scoring and entered Sunday's match tied for second nationally.
"It's a credit to the work that she has put in," McGahey said of Pelafas' red-hot start. "She trusts in her ability and she's earned the trust of her teammates around her and she is seeing results."
Marisa Oleksiak scored in the 60th minute to put MSU on the board.
"I thought our organization on defense was outstanding today, starting with the Taylor Potts, who played all 90 minutes for us," McGahey said.
The shots and corner kicks were 15 aside and five aside, respectively.
The Chippewas will be back in action on September 9 as the head to New Hampshire for a match up with Dartmouth at 7 p.m.
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