Soccer Opens MAC With Pair At Home This Weekend

Andy Glezen, CMUChippewas.com

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – The Central Michigan soccer team will kick off Mid-American Conference play this weekend with two games at the CMU Soccer Stadium.

The Chippewas (2-6) take on Ohio on Friday (6 p.m.) and Kent State on Sunday (1 p.m.).

"It certainly focuses us in because the MAC becomes season two," CMU coach Peter McGahey said. "Our approach doesn't change, but maybe we focus in on some different things to make sure we're highlighting what we're going to see when we get into the MAC."

STATE OF THE CHIPPEWAS
Statistically, CMU dominated the better part of its last two home matches. The Chippewas routed Oakland, 5-0, on Sept. 9, and then fell to Illinois-Chicago, 1-0, on Sunday despite outshooting the Flames, 14-2.

McGahey said the Chippewas need to capitalize on the changes they create.

"We created really good chances (against UIC)," he said. "I thought our press and high press really kept UIC under a great deal of pressure. We built on some of those strengths and got after it a little bit (at practice). It was about, 'Hey this is a place where we have to polish our game.'"

THE KEEPERS

Both Morgan Britain and Brianna Wallbridge have seen significant time in goal for the Chippewas this season. Britain has played in six games, all of them starts, while Wallbridge has started two and appeared in four.

Britain has 22 saves on the season with a 2.60 goals against average. She has logged 450 minutes on the season posting a .629 save percentage.

Wallbridge has six saves with a 1.30 goals against average. She has one shutout and a .600 save percentage.

SCOUTING
Ohio is 2-4-1. Sarina Dirrig, Madelyn Kah and Abby Townsend have each scored two goals this season for the Bobcats. The Golden Flashes (4-3-1) are coming off a 2-1 double-overtime victory at Syracuse, their second straight win. Isabelle Mihail leads Kent State with three goals.

McGAHEY
"They've really embraced the idea that season number two is a fresh start. Have we learned the important lessons from the nonconference and are we able to carry that forward in a positive way to start the MAC this weekend?"

NEXT
Central Michigan goes on the road next weekend for two MAC games, the first at Buffalo on Friday, Sept. 28, and the second at Akron on Sunday, Sept. 30.

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Players Mentioned

Morgan Britain

Brianna Wallbridge

Central Michigan University Athletics