Chippewas Tie In Season Opener

Thursday, August 22

Chicago, Ill.

8 p.m.

Central Michigan University

0-0-1, 0-0-0

UIC

0-0-1, 0-0-0

Central Michigan

UIC

8/22/2019 11:34:00 PM | Soccer

Box Score

Reed posts shutout in scoreless tie

By: Nick Vuylsteke, CMUChippewas.com

CHICAGO -- The first game in the Jeremy Groves era of Central Michigan women's soccer ended in a 0-0 tie with Illinois-Chicago on Thursday at Flames Field.

"We started off very slow, the first half was very disappointing with how we came out and how we performed," said Groves, who was named the Chippewas' coach in December. "The second half was much better. We came out and we were winning first balls and making opportunities for ourselves. I think both teams had chances to win the game, which from our prospective is a little disappointing. In the end, a tie is a fair result."

HOW IT HAPPENED
In the final 10 minutes of regulation, CMU had shots from Katie Coleman and Marle Bringard. CMU would have one shot from Maddie West in extra time.

CMU finished the game with 12 shots, four of them were on goal, and had three corner kicks. UIC had 16 shots, 10 of them were on goal, and six corners.

Coleman led CMU with five shots, three of them were on goal, along with West who had three shots.

"We were wide open in front of the goal a couple of times and we just didn't hit the target," Groves said. "We would put it wide or over the bar. Just because it says we didn't register a shot on goal, doesn't mean to say we didn't create a really good opportunity, and that's what we did three times in the second half.

"We were very much on top in the first overtime. We created more opportunities, but we couldn't hit the target, and we didn't put that goalkeeper under enough pressure and missed some easy targets."

REED WITH THE SHUTOUT
Zoie Reed played the entire game in goal for CMU, recording 10 saves. UIC's Lena Kurz had three saves. It was the 11^th career shutout for Reed, a senior.

"Reed was good," Grove said. "Everything she did, she made it look really easy. She commanded her box well, her kicking was very good. She had a good game for us and that's what we expect from her every time."

SOLID 'D'
The Chippewas won both of their exhibitions last week by a combined 3-0.

"We're only two and a half to three weeks in from the preseason," Groves Said. "There's still stuff to be worked on, but there's positive going forward. That's three games now that we didn't give up a goal, which is huge.

"The best thing is we don't turn around and play on Sunday, we have a little bit of time to get back on the bus, recover and look forward to playing against a good team in Northwestern next week."

NEXT
CMU will return to the Chicago area on Thursday, Aug. 29, when they play Northwestern in Evanston. The Wildcats dropped their season opener to SMU, 1-0, and are scheduled to play at Notre Dame on Sunday Aug. 25.

CMU's home opener is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 6, against Indiana State. The Chippewas then entertain IUPUI on Sunday, Sept. 8.