Seniors' Moment

Friday, October 19

Mount Pleasant, Mich.

3:00 p.m. ET

Central Michigan University

(2-15, 1-4MAC)

Ball State

(2-13, 2-3MAC)

Ball State

Central Michigan

CMU seniors Kayla McClure (left) and Lily Amadio celebrate the Chippewas' 1-0 victory in their home finale on Friday at the CMU Field Hockey Complex.

Photo by: Andy Sneddon

10/19/2018 6:24:00 PM | Field Hockey

Box Score Photo Gallery

Chippewas Hold Off Late Charge To Win Home Finale

By: Nick Vuylsteke

Nick Vuylsteke, CMUChippewas.com

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – Leave 'em smiling.

The Central Michigan field hockey team did, getting a goal from Samantha Glapinski in the first half and then making it stand as the Chippewas topped Ball Sate, 1-0, on Friday in a Mid-American Conference game at the CMU Field Hockey Complex.

The win, which came on Senior Day, snapped a 14-game losing streak as the Chippewas finished the regular season 2-15, 1-5. They begin play in the MAC Tournament in Oxford, Ohio on Oct. 31. Ball State is 2-13, 2-3.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Glapinski deflected a Kayla McClure shot past the Ball State goalkeeper at the 14:16 mark for the game's only goal.

With 6:35 remaining, Ball State pulled its goalie for an extra attacker and turned up the pressure on the CMU defense. The Cardinals had two penalty corners with the final 1:30 of the game and a goal that was disallowed.

CMU goalie Lily Amadio and the CMU defense made some terrific stops as time wound down.

First-year CMU coach Catherine Ostoich said that she felt like her heart was going to jump out of her chest during the waning moments.

"I give a huge amount of credit to the team," she said. "That was tough. It is hard to hold onto a lead and I was scared to death. There's been a couple of games where we've been up, and we've been in this type of situation, so we learned from our mistakes."

Ostoich said the final minutes were reminiscent of the Chippewas' 4-3 overtime loss to Saint Francis some six weeke ago. The Chippewas gave up three penalty corners in the last minute of regulation in that contest.

"We had this exact same situation against Saint Francis and we cracked under pressure in the penalty corner," she said. "But today, we didn't do that. So huge credit to that penalty corner team, they did a phenomenal job."

AMADIO
Amadio turned in a special performance in her final home game, making four saves and coming through in the clutch.

"It was really special," she said. "It was like the cherry on top. Those last six minutes all I was thinking was 'Do it for the team and for everyone else.' I had everyone else on my mind and gave it all I've got."

SENIORS' MOMENT
The win was important on several fronts for the Chippewas. It gives them a shot of momentum headed into the league tournament, and it leaves a lasting memory for the five seniors: Amadio, Leah Umberger, Anna Forry, Kady Gurtis and McClure.

"Today, it was all about the seniors," Ostoich said. "We're all focusing on playing for the seniors and to get this win on the turf for them, I mean, it's just a great ending to their four years here.

"I am just so proud of them, proud of the team and just glad we were able to get all the pieces together."

Said McClure: "It felt like any other game, but it just meant so much more that everybody else brought the same intensity for the seniors. There was just so much love out there and we really appreciated it."