Chippewas Log Breakthrough Performance on Senior Day, 2-1

Sunday, September 10

Mount Pleasant, Mich.

1 PM

Central Michigan University

1-1-3, 0-0-0

Purdue-Fort Wayne

3-3-2, 0-0-0

Purdue Fort Wayne

Central Michigan

Photo by: Sydney Kline '26 - @sydney.kline.photography

9/10/2023 4:18:00 PM | Soccer

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Central Michigan responds to season’s first loss with its first win over Purdue Fort Wayne, Chippewas give proper show to six-member senior class

By: Harrison LaLone

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. — No matter when it comes, the eureka moment can mean a lot for a new-look team's season. Sunday, in front of a supportive Senior Day crowd, Central Michigan Soccer found the win column with a 2-1 showing over Purdue University Fort Wayne to conclude the 2023 non-conference slate.

"I thought we bounced back great after a tough performance in Louisville," Head Coach Jeremy Groves said. "We had four or five key players out, but I thought the people we put in really stepped up well."

Early on this season in ties at Detroit Mercy (T, 3-3; Aug. 17) and in the home-opener against Wright State (T, 0-0; Aug. 27), the Chippewas (1-1-3) had no problem setting up shop in the 18', with a combined 46-16 advantage in shots and a 21-9 lead on-frame. Sunday's matchup with the Mastodons (3-3-2) proved similar with a 10-4 lead in on-target attempts.

"I thought in previous weeks we've been unlucky to not get a couple wins," Groves pointed out.

This time was different. Lauren Walker (Essexville, Mich. / Garber) broke the match open in the 39' from the right post thanks to a smooth pass from just inside the mid line by Jocelin Zimmerer (Evergreen, Colo. / Evergreen), the day's leader in shots on goal. Jenna Little (Portage, Mich. / Central) collected her second goal of the season in the 62' as Zimmerer again found a cutting Walker down the right sideline, this time opting for a cross to Little directly in front of the goal.

Seven minutes later, the Mastodons answered.

"We went up 2-0 playing very well," Groves added. "I thought one tiny mistake made for their goal took the wind out of us. Credit to [Purdue Fort Wayne], they never gave in."

In the final 10 minutes, Allison LaPoint (Royal Oak, Mich. / Shrine Catholic) made her presence felt with a pair of unofficial stops in patrol of the posts, negating a golden set piece opportunity for Purdue Fort Wayne in the final minute of play. She ended the day with just three saves, but her work outside the box score did not go unnoticed.

The first win of the 2023 campaign comes in direct response to a physically demanding Labor Day weekend road swing at Cincinnati (T, 0-0; Aug. 31) and at Louisville (L, 3-0; Sep. 3). Now the eyes turn to the Mid-American Conference slate, which opens Sep. 21 as the Chippewas host Eastern Michigan.

"Really happy to get the win going into our first conference game; this gives us a major boost now when we play Eastern Michigan in a couple weeks."

Central Michigan honored its six seniors ahead of kickoff for Sunday's matchup, saluting the efforts of Addie Brown (Grand Rapids, Mich. / Forest Hills Northern), Abigale Edwards (Huntington Beach, Calif. / Fountain Valley), Megan Scholten (Charlevoix, Mich. / Charlevoix), Emily Penney (Cambridge, Ontario / Galt Collegiate), Elizabeth Chlystun (Zionsville, Ind. / Zionsville Township) and Matilda Melin (Örnsköldsvik, Sweden / Nolaskolan).

"Very happy to send the seniors out with a win," Groves concluded. "This was my first recruiting class here at CMU and they've been great for our program both on and off the field; they're great people we've loved coaching. We are determined to send them out on a high the rest of the season."

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