Soccer Doubles Up Cincinnati in Home Opener, 2-1

Sunday, August 25

Mount Pleasant, Mich.

1 PM

Central Michigan University

1-1-0, 0-0-0

Cincinnati

2-1-0, 0-0-0

Cincinnati

Central Mich.

Photo by: Lauren Verellen '26 - @laurenverellen_photography

8/25/2024 6:07:00 PM | Soccer

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The Chippewas tallied their pair in the first 12 minutes, maintained one-score margin for the entire second half

By: Harrison LaLone

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. — Central Michigan Soccer claimed its first victory over a power conference opponent since 2019 Sunday afternoon with a 2-1 output over Cincinnati in the first regular-season home event of 2024-25.

"So happy to get our first win of the season against a quality opponent," Head Coach Jeremy Groves said. "We came out of the blocks firing, we were dangerous."

The Chippewas jumped ahead early with the first career goal for sophomore Caitlin Gill (Grand Rapids, Mich. / Forest Hills Northern). Gill, Sunday's starting right back, had her attempt from outside the 18' deflected by a Bearcat defender to give the Chippewas a 1-0 lead just 48 seconds into her second career start.

Senior midfielder Jocelin Zimmerer (Evergreen, Colo. / Evergreen) took home the game-winner in the 12^th minute. A pass back outside from Jenna Little (Portage, Mich. / Portage Central) was placed at the top of the arc for Zimmerer to finish through a clear lane.

"Our first goal got a big deflection from [Gill], but we've deserved a bit of luck after the last few years. Our second was a quality move that ended in a brilliant finish from distance."

Senior goalkeeper Allison LaPoint (Royal Oak, Mich. / Shrine Catholic) posted two of her five saves in the 10 minutes between CMU's strikes and a third in the 21^st minute before Cincinnati found its lid-lifter. An open Bearcat run going into the 44^th minute through the middle forced the veteran keeper to vacate her line and meet the play at the 18', Cincinnati was first to the ensuing loose ball to capitalize on the open net.

The Chippewas dug in for the second half, taking just one shot while fending off five attempts, two on-goal, from the Bearcats. Cincinnati's last quality look came in the 87^th minute as back-to-back attempts were taken from inside the box through the traffic, the first broken up by the CMU line, the second plucked from the crowd by LaPoint for her fifth save of the day, 199^th of her career.

"In the second half, we didn't show as much quality and had to defend for large portions of it. I thought we were resilient and showed toughness to get the result."

More quality opponents on-deck for Central Michigan Soccer next weekend with visits No. 13 TCU (Thu., 8 p.m. ET) and No. 12 Texas (Sep. 1, 2 p.m. ET). The Chippewas return for a pair at home Thursday, Sept. 5 with South Dakota, followed by Wisconsin-Green Bay Sept. 8, both 1 p.m. ET kickoffs.

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