Chippewas Tabbed for First Loss of 2023 at Louisville, 3-0

Sunday, September 3

Lousiville, Ky. / Lynn Stadium

7:30 PM

Central Michigan University

0-1-3, 0-0-0

Louisville

1-3-2, 0-0-0

Central Mich.

Louisville

Photo by: Julia Bice '22,M'24 - @jb.jpg10

9/3/2023 10:01:00 PM | Soccer

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After 20-plus hours of travel on the weekend and a pair of physical matchups with Power-Five opponents, Central Michigan Soccer finally takes its first loss of the 2023 season visiting the Cardinals

By: Harrison LaLone

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Central Michigan Soccer was forced into its first loss of the 2023 season Sunday night at the University of Louisville, 3-0, completing a physically-demanding weekend swing on the road against Power-Five opponents.

The Chippewas (0-1-3) rushed out of the kickoff to log the first shot—from Jenna Little (Portage, Mich. / Central)—and first corner of the game in the first two minutes. Ready for the fight, keeper Allison LaPoint (Royal Oak, Mich. / Shrine Catholic) tallied the first save of the match two minutes later.

"We've set a high standard and didn't reach that in the game," Head Coach Jeremy Groves opened. "It's been our first weekend on the road for two games; we started off really slow and looked tired tonight."

The 14' saw the first goal of the match as a pass in bounced off multiple players in the box before sneaking past the CMU defense. The Chippewas cut the Cardinals off from on-target shots for the remainder of the half.

In the 32', Cece Mernatti (St. Clair Shores, Mich. / Norton Shores) marked Central Michigan's lone shot on-goal for the match, one of three attempts in the first half.

"We had some good moments tonight," Groves added. "We hit the post and crossbar, had two other great opportunities. Louisville is a quality team and, at times, played some really good soccer."

Things unraveled for the Chippewas in a five-minute window as Louisville found the back of the net in the 52' and 57', icing the match for the duration.

"We have lots to learn from this game but it shows how far we've come in a short space of time. Our expectations are much higher now."

Central Michigan Soccer returns to Mount Pleasant Sept. 10 to host Purdue University Fort Wayne in continued non-conference action. The Chippewas will recognize Addie Brown (Grand Rapids, Mich. / Forest Hills Northern), Elizabeth Chlystun (Zionsville, Ind. / Zionsville Community), Abigale Edwards (Huntington Beach, Calif. / Fountain Valley), Matilda Melin (Örnsköldsvik, Sweden / Nolaskolan), Emily Penney (Cambridge, Ont. / Galt Collegiate), and Megan Scholten (Charlevoix, Mich. / Charlevoix) in Senior Day Celebration.

The 2023 Mid-American Conference schedule begins Sept. 21. Matchups with both in-state rivals, Eastern Michigan (Sept. 21) and Western Michigan (Sept. 28) round out the home slate in September for the Chippewas.

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