Central Michigan University Athletics
Sunday, September 23
Mount Pleasant, Mich.
1:00 p.m. ET
Central Michigan University
4-6-0, 2-0-0MAC
2
vs
1
Kent State
4-5-1, 0-2-0MAC
1
2
F
Kent State
0
1
1
Central Michigan
1
1
2
Photo by: Allissa Rusco
Chippewas Win, Complete Perfect MAC-Opening Weekend
9/23/2018 4:36:00 PM | Soccer
CMU off to first 2-0 start in league play since 2013
Andy Glezen, CMUChippewas.com
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – Natalie Belsito's first collegiate goal could not have come at a better time.
Belsito scored in the 69th minute off a Madison Costner assist on Sunday, lifting the Central Michigan soccer team to a 2-1 Mid-American Conference victory over Kent State at the CMU Soccer Stadium.
The win came two days after CMU's dramatic 1-0 double-overtime win over Ohio in the MAC opener. CMU has won three of its last four starts and is 4-6, 2-0 MAC.
The Chippewas are off to their first 2-0 start in MAC play since 2013.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Chippewas controlled play in the first half and seized a 1-0 lead on a Shannon Magnan goal in the 20th minute. Lexi Pelafas and Maria Kaschalk assisted.
Kent State tied it with a goal on a penalty kick by Vital Kats in the 54th minute. Fifteen minutes later, Belsito put the Chippewas back on top.
"I'm really proud of (the team) and I thought they showed good resiliency, good grit and a good intense MAC performance today," CMU coach Peter McGahey said. "I think what we found this weekend is a really good determination and a persistence to grind until we find that scoring moment."
BELSITO
Belsito, a sophomore from Ada, had appeared in just three of CMU's games prior to Sunday's. When called upon, she was prepared and she delivered.
"I can't even really explain it, it's just an honor playing with these girls," said Belsito, who last spring gained national notoriety for saving the life of a squirrel by performing CPR. Video of the event was aired on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. "They're all so talented and they want all they can get and that's what we did today."
GETTING PHYSICAL
It was a noticeably physical match as the Chippewas and Golden Flashes combined for 27 fouls. Kent State received two yellow cards.
"I thought the intensity today that both teams brought is really indicative of the quality soccer that's brought in the MAC," McGahey said. "I thought our team did a very good job of putting out a really good and intense performance from start to finish."
NEXT
Central Michigan will hit the road next weekend traveling to Buffalo (7 p.m.) on Friday and Akron (1 p.m.) on Sunday.
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – Natalie Belsito's first collegiate goal could not have come at a better time.
Belsito scored in the 69th minute off a Madison Costner assist on Sunday, lifting the Central Michigan soccer team to a 2-1 Mid-American Conference victory over Kent State at the CMU Soccer Stadium.
The win came two days after CMU's dramatic 1-0 double-overtime win over Ohio in the MAC opener. CMU has won three of its last four starts and is 4-6, 2-0 MAC.
The Chippewas are off to their first 2-0 start in MAC play since 2013.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Chippewas controlled play in the first half and seized a 1-0 lead on a Shannon Magnan goal in the 20th minute. Lexi Pelafas and Maria Kaschalk assisted.
Kent State tied it with a goal on a penalty kick by Vital Kats in the 54th minute. Fifteen minutes later, Belsito put the Chippewas back on top.
"I'm really proud of (the team) and I thought they showed good resiliency, good grit and a good intense MAC performance today," CMU coach Peter McGahey said. "I think what we found this weekend is a really good determination and a persistence to grind until we find that scoring moment."
BELSITO
Belsito, a sophomore from Ada, had appeared in just three of CMU's games prior to Sunday's. When called upon, she was prepared and she delivered.
"I can't even really explain it, it's just an honor playing with these girls," said Belsito, who last spring gained national notoriety for saving the life of a squirrel by performing CPR. Video of the event was aired on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. "They're all so talented and they want all they can get and that's what we did today."
GETTING PHYSICAL
It was a noticeably physical match as the Chippewas and Golden Flashes combined for 27 fouls. Kent State received two yellow cards.
"I thought the intensity today that both teams brought is really indicative of the quality soccer that's brought in the MAC," McGahey said. "I thought our team did a very good job of putting out a really good and intense performance from start to finish."
NEXT
Central Michigan will hit the road next weekend traveling to Buffalo (7 p.m.) on Friday and Akron (1 p.m.) on Sunday.
Team Stats
KENTST
CMU
Goals
1
2
Shots
11
13
Shots on Goal
3
9
Saves
7
2
Corners
2
6
Fouls
11
16
Scoring Plays
MAGNAN, Shannon (3)
Assisted By: KASCHALK, Maria , PELAFAS, Lexi
long cross from 3 chipped in by 13
19:52
KATS,VITAL (3)
KENTST KATS,VITAL PENALTY KICK GOAL, goal number 3 for season.
53:35
BELSITO, Natalie (1)
Assisted By: COSTNER, Madison
GOAL by CMU BELSITO, Natalie, Assist by COSTNER, Madison, goal number 1 for season.
68:39
Game Leaders
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
4
SOG
2
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
0
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Players Mentioned
M/F
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