Chippewas Help Tourney Hopes With Win In Home Finale

Sunday, October 21

Mount Pleasant, Mich.

1:00 p.m. ET

Central Michigan University

7-11-0, 5-5-0MAC

Miami (Ohio)

3-13-1, 1-9-0MAC

Miami

Central Michigan

Photo by: Allissa Rusco

10/21/2018 4:44:00 PM | Soccer

Box Score Photo Gallery

In-control CMU breaks through in second half

By: Mitch Vosburg

Mitch Vosburg, CMUChippewas.com

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – The Central Michigan soccer team finally broke through in the 68^th minute and then added an insurance goal 13 minutes later on Sunday in posting a 2-0 Mid-American Conference victory over Miami (Ohio).

It was the Chippewas' home finale. They close the regular season on Thursday, Oct. 25 with a league game at Eastern Michigan. CMU is 7-11, 5-5 MAC. Miami is 3-14-1, 1-10.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Senior Madison Costner scored in the 68^th minute on a bending shot. Lexi Pelafas and Mary Carlson each were credited with assists.

Freshman Abby Willerer scored her first career goal on a free kick in the 81^st minute to extend CMU's lead.

The Chippewas outshot the RedHawks, 15-5. Morgan Britain made one save for the shutout, her second of the season and CMU's first since a 1-0 win at Akron on Sept. 30.

"The team really came out with a heartfelt and intense performance for the entire 90 minutes," CMU coach Peter McGahey said. "I thought we did a good job of sticking together and generating a lot of offensive attack."

WHERE THEY STAND

The Chippewas are tied for sixth place with 15 points (three points for a win, one for a tie). Toledo and Akron are tied for eighth place with 13 points, while Eastern Michigan is 10^th with 12.

The top eight teams in the standings earn a berth in the league tournament. A win at EMU on Thursday would guarantee CMU a spot in the tourney. A tie or a loss would put the Chippewas in a much more dicey situation.

INJURED SENIOR

Senior midfielder Shannon Magnon suffered an injury to her right knee in the the opening 20 minutes of Sunday's game. She did not return to the game.

McGahey said he was pleased with the Chippewas' response after Magnon left the game.

"It's always hard to have a senior leader go down, especially somebody who's meant so much to the program and given her heart and soul and is such an important part of our energy and the culture we have every day," McGahey said.