Soccer Explodes for Six Goals to Conclude Nonconference Slate

Wednesday, September 11

Fort Wayne, Ind. / Hefner Soccer Complex

4 PM

Central Michigan University

2-4-1, 0-0-0

Purdue Fort Wayne

5-3-1, 0-0-0

Central Mich.

Purdue Fort Wayne

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

Soccer Explodes for Six Goals to Conclude Nonconference Slate

9/11/2024 7:22:00 PM | Soccer

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Chippewas tied the second-most goals in program history; LaPoint's 10 saves vaults her to second all-time for her career

By: Harrison LaLone

FORT WAYNE, Ind. — Central Michigan Soccer unloaded six goals, four in the first half, on Purdue Fort Wayne Wednesday afternoon at the Hefner Soccer Complex, the most for the program in 17 years.

Six different Chippewas (2-4-1) found the back of the net, also the most in nearly two decades. Lauren Walker (Essexville, Mich. / Garber), Claudia Muessig (Paw Paw, Mich. / Paw Paw) and Rachel Jackson (Bloomfield Hills, Mich. / Detroit Country Day) each posted three points in the contest, Walker's in the first half.

Muessig scored the opening goal in the eighth minute, a tally that stood for nearly 25 minutes until Camryn Dunn (Brunswick, Ohio / Brunswick) and Walker scored within 75 seconds of each other.

Libby Van Wagnen (Jackson, Mich. / Jackson) punched in a line drive from outside the 18' to tie for the most first-half goals in program history, third-most in either half.

"It was an unbelievable first half," Head Coach Jeremy Groves said. "Our players deserved to see that for themselves, it's been coming for a long time."

Jenna Little (Portage, Mich. / Portage Central) tallied the day's fifth goal, and Jackson's assist, before the Bloomfield, Mich.-native finished the production before the 60-minute mark, which logged Muessig's assist in the process.

"It was even better that we didn't sit back in the second half and scored two more goals. This should really propel us into the conference in a good way."

Dunn, Van Wagnen and Jackson each scored the first goal of their respective careers Wednesday. All three have predominantly played defense in their careers, though Jackson has played forward throughout her sophomore season thus far.

Keeper Allison LaPoint (Royal Oak, Mich. / Shrine Catholic) managed to stay busy between the posts for her second double-digit performance in saves in the last 10 days after she moved her career high from eight to 12 stops at No. 14 Texas on Sept. 1. She entered the day fourth all-time in career saves at CMU, her 10 stops Wednesday vaulted her into second in the record book, 56 saves away from tying the program record with 11 regular-season matches to go.

Central Michigan's 14 shots on-goal was the most in a match since a visit to IU Indianapolis, formerly IUPUI, on Sept. 9, 2021 when the Chippewas tallied 16 on-target attempts.

The 2024 Mid-American Conference schedule begins Sept. 19 at Eastern Michigan, another 4 p.m. midweek kickoff. The Chippewas return to host Akron the following Sunday (Sept. 22).

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