Groves Era Kicks Off

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. -- The Jeremy Groves era and 2019 season for the Central Michigan women's soccer team officially kicks off on Thursday at Illinois-Chicago.

Groves was named to head the program in December, 2018. Thursday's nonconference game, which kicks off at 8 p.m., is the Englishman's first in charge of the program. The Chippewas posted a 7-12 record in 2018.

"We're moving in the right direction," said Groves, who came to CMU after a highly successful run at Murray State. "It's still early, we can improve on a lot of things … A little more growth, and a little more confidence. Going in, we've got to make sure we're firing on all cylinders at the right time of the year, which I hope we do since we're moving in the right direction."

RETURNING
Among the Chippewas' top returnees are senior Marle Bringard and junior Natalie Belsito, who tied for fourth on the team with four points each a year ago. Another front-line returnee is sophomore Maria Kaschalk, who posted four assists a year ago.

IN GOAL
After sitting out the entire 2018 season with an injury, senior Zoie Reed returns in goal. In 2017, Reed started all 19 games, posting an 8-8-3 record with five shutouts. She had a 1.28 goals against average, and a .757 save percentage. Her 78 saves that season ranks as the fifth best for a single season in program history.

Brianna Wallbridge is the only goaltender on the roster who appeared in a game for CMU last season. She made six starts among eight appearances, posting a 3-4 record, including two shutouts, with 21 saves, a 1.23 goals against average, and a .700 save percentage.

HOT START
CMU defeated Detroit Mercy, 1-0, and Illinois, 2-0, in exhibitions last week.

"We obviously have a real good feel-good factor right now," Groves said. "We had a really good result against a good Illinois team on Saturday here at home."

One of the things that has stood out to Groves about his players is the way they have bought into his program and the energy they have brought to practice and the exhibitions.

"A couple of things that we really like about this team is that they show up every day ready to work," he said. "Their energy and their effort is really good and I think that showed (against Illinois).

"It's more of the finer points that were working at. We're not coaching effort, we're not coaching that kind of stuff, which is awesome. They've grasped onto everything that we've wanted them to do, and now it's fine tuning, which is normal because we've only been here for 2 ½ weeks."

HISTORY
Thursday's game is the second between the Chippewas and Flames, who were 4-14-1 a year ago. UIC won the first meeting, 1-0, in 2018.

NEXT
CMU will return to the Chicago area next week for a nonconference game in Evanston, Ill., against Big Ten rival Northwestern.

The following weekend, the Chippewas will entertain Indiana State (Sept. 6) in their home opener and then, on Sept. 8, welcome IUPUI.

Central Michigan University Athletics

Players Mentioned

Natalie Belsito

Marle Bringard

Maria Kaschalk

Zoie Reed

Brianna Wallbridge

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