Soccer Eyes Win To Nail Down MAC Tourney Berth

Thursday, October 25

Ypsilanti, Mich.

3:00 p.m. ET

Central Michigan University

Eastern Michigan

Photo by: Allissa Rusco

10/24/2018 2:16:00 PM | Soccer

Chippewas play at Eastern Michigan on Thursday

By: Andy Sneddon

Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com.

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – It's as simple for the Central Michigan soccer team: Win and in.

A loss or a tie? Well, that's a little more complicated.

The Chippewas close the regular season on Thursday (3 p.m.) with a Mid-American Conference game at Eastern Michigan.

"Excited, excited to see the team play," CMU coach Peter McGahey said. "You always look forward to, at this point in the season, being in control as much as you can be. I think we've certainly earned that opportunity and I'm really confident that the team will come out (Thursday) and really seize the moment.

"I think Eastern is athletic and powerful and strong and they're playing at home. They will be a team that will absolutely bring a good fight."

WHERE THEY STAND
CMU is is 7-11, 5-5 MAC and tied for sixth place in the league standings with Buffalo. CMU has 15 points (three for a win, one for a tie). The top eight teams in the final regular-season standings earn a berth to the conference tourney.

Toledo and Akron are tied for the eighth spot with 13 points, while Eastern Michigan is 10^th with 12 points and must win Thursday's game to have any hope of making the tournament.

WINDING DOWN
Seniors Lexi Pelafas, Madison Costner, Shannon Magnan and Mary Carlson will suit up for the final time in a regular-season match for the Chippewas on Thursday.

LEADERS
Pelafas, CMU's all-time leading scorer with 42 career goals, ranks third in the MAC with nine goals this season, while Costner is second on the team – and tied for ninth in the league – with six goals.

Eastern's Kristin Mason is tied for sixth in the league with seven goals.

LOOKING AHEAD
The eight MAC Tournament quarterfinalists open tournament play on Sunday, Oct. 28. The four winners advance to Bowling Green, Ohio, for the semifinals on Friday, Nov. 2.