Soccer Drops Season-Opener at Kentucky, 2-0

Thursday, August 15

Lexington, Ky. / Bell Soccer Complex

7:30 PM

Central Michigan University

0-1-0, 0-0-0

Kentucky

1-0-0, 0-0-0

Central Michigan

Kentucky

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

8/15/2024 9:57:00 PM | Soccer

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Chippewas succumbs to high-volume Wildcat attack; Four players earn first CMU start on opening day

By: Harrison LaLone

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Central Michigan Soccer fell to Kentucky, 2-0, to open the 2024 campaign Thursday night at the Bell Soccer Complex.

The Wildcats began their attack after a feeling-out period through the first 15-plus minutes in which the Chippewas logged a handful of set opportunities.

"In the first 15 minutes, we were outstanding," Head Coach Jeremy Groves said, "that now is the marker for us."

Kentucky broke the seal with less than four minutes to intermission, then slid in its second near the midway point of the second half.

"Definitely lots of learning moments for us, but we played well against a good Kentucky team. Extremely proud of our fight in the game."

Senior goalkeeper Allison LaPoint (Royal Oak, Mich. / Shrine Catholic) began her active evening in the 22' as she stepped out from her line to stop the first of two Kentucky breakaways, marking her first of seven saves in the 26'. An early second-half barrage doubled her first half total of three saves.

Seconds after checking in late in the first, senior Jenna Little (Portage, Mich. / Central)—CMU's scoring leader from 2023—tallied the Chippewas' lone shot on-goal, tucked in tight to the left post, as an almost-immediate response to Kentucky's 42^nd-minute breaker.

Four Chippewas earned their first start for the Maroon & Gold: sophomore Caitlin Gill (Grand Rapids, Mich. / Forest Hills Northern), freshmen Grace Cameron (Clio, Mich. / Flint Powers) and Ella Betzold (Essexville, Mich. / Garber) and transfer junior Gabriella Sapia (Livonia, Mich. / Stevenson).

Central Michigan Soccer returns to the CMU Soccer Complex Sunday, August 25 to host Cincinnati for a 1 p.m. rematch of 2023's 1-1 draw at the Bearcats. The Chippewas then hit the road for a pair in the Lone Star State, with visits to TCU (Aug. 29), which received votes in the preseason United Soccer Coaches national poll and No. 17 Texas (Sept. 1).

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