Unbeaten Chippewa Soccer Team Hosts Western, NIU

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – A lot has happened with regard to the Central Michigan soccer team since it last played at home, all of it good.

The unbeaten Chippewas are scheduled to play their first game at the CMU Soccer/Lacrosse Complex since early September when they welcome rival Western Michigan on Friday, Oct. 4 (7 p.m.), and then entertain Northern Illinois on Sunday, Oct. 6 (1 p.m.).

Both are Mid-American Conference games.

Where They Stand
The Chippewas are 5-0-2 and have won five consecutive games, that last two of which came last weekend when they opened MAC play with back-to-back 1-0 wins at Ball State and at Miami (Ohio), the latter of which came in extra time.

The Chippewas share first place in the league with Bowling Green. Both are 2-0 (six points); Kent State and Western are both 1-0-1 (four points). CMU is scheduled to play at Bowling Green on Thursday, Oct. 10.

Moving Up
The Chippewas hold an RPI of 44, best among MAC teams, and is ninth in the United Soccer Coaches Midwest Region rankings. Last week, CMU was 10^th. CMU is the only MAC team and the only unbeaten team in the regional rankings.

Scouting
Western is 3-5-1 with a tie with Kent State and a win over Ohio in MAC play. NIU is 2-6-1 after dropping both of its MAC games last weekend, the first to Ohio and the second to Kent State.

Awards
CMU swept the league's individual weekly awards for the first week of conference play.

Senior Marle Bringard scored both of CMU's goals last weekend, and earned the MAC Offensive Player of the Week Award. Bringard leads the Chippewas in goals, with three, and points, with seven.

Goalkeeper Zoie Reed posted both shutouts, earning the MAC Defensive Player of the Week Award. The shutouts were Reed's second and third on the season.

In over 696 minutes in net, Reed leads the MAC in goals against average (0.517) and in save percentage (.907).

Rivalry
This weekend's rivalry game with Western Michigan carries implications outside of the potential three points for each team.

"The game has implications for a lot of things," CMU coach Jeremy Groves said. "It's a rivalry, they're down the road. We're both in Michigan, and we're going to recruit against each other. For this year, and every year, we want to beat our rival.

"It has a lot of things going on, but the main thing is we have to win the game, get three points, and keep this season moving on. We're aware of the rivalry, it's probably going to be a physical game, but we just need to win."

Next
CMU has a game on the road, and a game at home next weekend. The weekend starts on the road at Bowling Green on Thursday, Oct 10 (7 p.m.). The Chippewas will then return to Mount Pleasant for a home game against Toledo on Sunday, Oct. 13 (1 p.m.).

The Falcons are 4-4-2, 2-0 MAC and are the defending MAC regular-season and tournament champions. Toledo is 3-7, 0-2.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Marle Bringard

Zoie Reed

Central Michigan University Athletics