Little Nets Two, Chippewas Take Down Miami for First MAC Win

Sunday, September 24

Oxford, Ohio / Bobby Kramig Field

1 PM

Central Michigan University

2-2-3, 1-1-0

Miami (OH)

3-6-1, 0-2-0

Central Mich.

Miami (OH)

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

Little Nets Two, Chippewas Take Down Miami for First MAC Win

9/24/2023 4:49:00 PM | Soccer

Box Score Box Score Gamebook

Central Michigan responded to its disappointing MAC opener Thursday night with a return-to-form performance up front, highlighted by two goals from Jenna Little

By: Harrison LaLone

OXFORD, Ohio — Central Michigan Soccer logged a get-right performance in its first road match of the 2023 Mid-American Conference season Sunday afternoon with a 2-1 victory over Miami (OH).

"Unbelievably proud of our group today," Head Coach Jeremy Groves began. "To come on the road and win against a good opponent, our players deserve every bit of credit."

Jenna Little (Portage, Mich. / Central) found the back of the net twice in a three-minute window early in the second half to push the Chippewas (2-2-3, 1-1-0 MAC) past the RedHawks (3-6-1, 0-2-0 MAC), assisted once from each flank with crosses sent in by Cece Mernatti (St. Clair Shores, Mich. / Lakeview) from the left in the 49' and Lauren Walker (Essexville, Mich. / Garber) from the right in the 52'.

"I'm happy that all three of our forwards were involved in both goals," Groves commented. "We came out from the minute one and executed our game plan. Our front three were very good today."

CMU wasted no time in washing out the sour taste from Thursday night's MAC opener against Eastern Michigan (L, 1-0) with Sunday's triumph in Ohio. The Chippewas went right to work with six shots—four on-goal—to just two attempts from Miami (OH) in the first half.

"The players really came together after Thursday's disappointing performance. We showed what this team is capable of moving forward."

A welcome carry-over from Thursday's contest was another steady performance in goal from Allison LaPoint (Royal Oak, Mich. / Shrine Catholic) as she withstood a frantic barrage from the RedHawks in the second half—a total of 13 shots—to tally six of her eight saves for the match, tying a career high for a second time in the first week of conference play.

Central Michigan Soccer returns to the CMU Soccer Complex Thursday night to host arch-rival Western Michigan for another 7 p.m. kickoff. Labeled a White Out with a Twist, Chippewa fans will be encouraged to wear white for the event and will be given packets of color dust in anticipation of CMU goals.

Follow Central Michigan Soccer:
TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK

— CMU —