Lacrosse Goes To Indy To Face Butler

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. -- The Central Michigan Lacrosse team will head to Indianapolis on Sunday (noon) to take on Butler in a nonconference matchup.

WHERE THEY STAND
CMU dropped its opener, 20-4, eight days ago at Michigan. Butler is 1-2 after a 13-10 home win over Kent State on Friday. The Bulldogs have lost to Duquesne, 16-8, and to Detroit Mercy, 17-13.

CMU and Butler have met in each of the past two years, with the Chippewas winning both.

THE GOOD
Despite a 16-goal loss to Michigan last weekend, there are plenty of positives, fourth-year CMU coach Sara Tisdale said.

"We came out very strong and our first possession where we ended up scoring was 2 1/2 minutes (into the game), which is great," she said. "And that's exactly what we looked for was to be in the driver seat.

"We need to start every single game that way. I think our goalies played well, I think they had outstanding games. Our defense played as well as they could for as many times as they played on defense."

IMPROVEMENTS
After taking the lead, CMU surrendered 11 consecutive goals to the Wolverines. Energy and effort were keys, Tisdale say.

"We weren't winning the draw, even though it was 50/50 in ground balls," she said. "We weren't in the right position to play the right style of the ride, which is like a press in basketball. If we can translate (improvements) with that tenacious ground ball effort, and an offense that works together and plays fast, I think we'll put together a complete game."

The Chippewas finished with 15 shots, including eight on goal, against Michigan.

"We're looking to play quick and uptempo (on) offense and put some goals on the board," Tisdale said. "We need to be putting 25, 30, 35 shots on cage to give ourselves a chance to win."

SCOUTING
Butler is in its third year as a varsity program. The Bulldogs finished 1-16 in each of their first two seasons, and their win over Kent State was their first at home in program history.

"We know we're going to face an opponent who's looking for a win and will have you on your toes a little bit from the very beginning," Tisdale said.

NEXT
The Chippewas' home opener is scheduled for Friday, March 1 (3 p.m.) against Cincinnati at the Central Michigan Soccer/Lacrosse Complex. Cincinnati is 2-2 and is scheduled to play host to Detroit Mercy on Sunday, Feb. 24.

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