Chippewa Soccer Hosts First-Place Bowling Green Tonight

Thursday, October 4

Mount Pleasant, Mich.

7:00 p.m. ET

Central Michigan University

Bowling Green

Photo by: Allissa Rusco

10/4/2018 7:37:00 AM | Soccer

Chippewas are 3-1 in the MAC, tied for second

By: Mitch Vosburg

Mitch Vosburg, CMUChippewas.com

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. -- The Central Michigan women's soccer team looks to build off its 3-1 start in the Mid-American Conference with a pair of games, beginning Thursday (7 p.m.) with a showdown with Bowling Green at the CMU Soccer Stadium.

The Chippewas are 5-7, 3-1 MAC. Bowling Green is 6-3-2 overall and leads the MAC at 4-0. The Falcons are the only unbeaten team remaining in league play. The Chippewas are tied for second with Buffalo and Western Michigan.

CMU goes to Toledo (6-5-1, 2-2) on Sunday (1 p.m.).

"It's all about opportunity now," CMU coach Peter McGahey said. "The opportunity to play at home on Thursday, kick off homecoming is a tremendous opportunity, especially playing against a team that is the top of the (league). I think that's a fabulous opportunity to see where we are at this point in our season."

CHIPPEWA LEADERS
Senior forward Lexi Pelafas leads CMU with 15 points (six goals, three assists). Senior Shannon Magnan has contributed 11 points (three goals, five assists), while Madison Costner has added 10 (four goals, two assists). Pelafas is tied for third in the league in goals scored, while Costner is tied for 10^th.

CMU redshirt freshman goalkeeper Biranna Wallbridge owns a 3-3 record with a 1.11 goals against average in five starts. Sophomore Morgan Britain is 2-4 with a goals against average of 2.17 in seven starts.

HOT CHIPPEWAS
The Chippewas enter this weekend winning three of their last four games, all coming in MAC contests. CMU split its two games on last weekend's road trip, falling 2-0 to Buffalo while defeating Akron 1-0 thanks to Costner's goal at the 47-minute mark.

"Any positive momentum and confidence and belief within a team is definitely important," McGahey said. "What we've seen as a team is when we do a little more we have an opportunity to scrap and fight. To build off the road victory against Akron is very important."

SCOUTING
Bowling Green defeated Northern Illinois, 3-0, and Western Michigan, 2-0, at home. Bowling Green has yet to allow a goal in conference play, outscoring opponents 10-0. The Falcons have outscored thir opponents, 21-6, on the season.

"Bowling Green has very good overall team speed, their attack is really quite dangerous and they transition very quickly," McGahey said.

Senior Erica Hubert and junior Chelsee Washington lead the Falcons with 17 points each (six goals, five assists). Junior goalkeeper Kathleen Duwve owns a 6-3-2 record with a 0.56 goals against average. She is the co-leader in the MAC with five shutouts.

Toledo is the defending MAC Tournamanet champion. Last weekend, the Rockets fell 3-2 to Western Michigan and defeated Northern Illinois, 5-1. Toledo faces Eastern Michigan on Thursday in Ypsilanti.

The Rockets are led offensively by senior Hannah Scafaria, who leads the MAC with 11 goals and ranks second in the conference with 23 points. Scafaria is tied for third in the nation in goals scored. Sophomore Sophia Lewis is second on the squad with 11 points (three goals, team-high five assists). Redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Madison Perrin is 5-4-1 with a 1.29 goals against average.

"Toledo is a little different (than Bowling Green)," McGahey said. "They score goals and capitalize in good moments. They play with the confidence of a defending champion."