Chippewas Deliver On Offense, Win Season Opener

Friday, August 30

Mount Pleasant, Mich.

2 p.m.

Central Michigan University

(1-0)

Colgate

(0-1)

Colgate

Central Michigan

Photo by: Benjamin Suddendorf

8/30/2019 6:13:00 PM | Field Hockey

Box Score Photo Gallery

Two freshmen score as CMU downs Colgate, 4-1

By: Jake Polack, CMUChippewas.com

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – The Central Michigan field hockey team earned a statement win on Friday afternoon, topping Colgate in their season opener, 4-1, behind two second-half goals from freshman Neve Dibley.

To the delight of coach Catherine Ostoich, the four goals marked CMU's highest single-game total since Oct. 30, 2015. After making offensive aggression a point of emphasis heading into the season, Ostoich was all smiles following the win.

"The team came out today and was just ready to get after it," she said. "It was awesome."

It was a big win for the Chippewas on several levels, including in the confidence department. The Chippewas finished 2-16 a year ago in Ostoich's first season at the helm.

"It's huge," she said. "I think everyone is now relaxed and we can actually go into the season and play."

HOW IT HAPPENED
CMU took advantage of its first penalty corner, as freshman Alice O'Hagan scored to put the Chippewas up 1-0 just over six minutes into the game.

Samantha Glapinski scored in the 39^th minute and then Dibley, another freshman, found the back of the net less than 10 minutes later to put the Chippewas up, 3-0.

Five seconds after Dibley's goal, Iona McKillop scored to cut the Chippewas lead to 3-1.

With 10:40 remaining and just seconds after McKilliop's goal had cut CMU's lead to two, the Raiders pulled their goalie in an effort to pressure the Chippewas.

CMU maintained its composure, and Dibley made it 4-1 with her second goal with under nine minutes to play, essentially putting it out of reach.

"No there wasn't any panic," Ostoich said of the Chippewas response when Colgate pulled to 3-1 and then pulled the goalkeeper for an extra attacker. "That was huge. We all stayed composed, we worked our way back up the field and then we rocked in another goal. It was great."

Taryn Damm, Callie Quinn, Georgina Minta, Anna Riesenberg and Alli Huddleson each had an assist for CMU.

SWEET REVENGE
The Chippewas fell to the Raiders, 1-0, in overtime in the season opener at Colgate a year ago. That result served, to a degree, as motivation.

"We thought we should've had that game," Ostoich said. "To come back out here and really take advantage of it, it's great."

NEXT
CMU concludes is season-opening weekend on Monday (11 a.m.) when it entertains Saint Louis.