Chippewas settle for draw at Eastern Michigan, 2-2

YPSILANTI, Mich. — Central Michigan Soccer took home a 2-2 draw from Eastern Michigan Thursday evening to open Mid-American Conference play with a point toward the season standings.

"Overall, a good point on the road against a team that was 4-0 this season at home coming into the game," Head Coach Jeremy Groves said.

The Chippewas (2-4-2, 0-0-1 MAC) found consecutive goals from Claudia Muessig (Paw Paw, Mich. / Paw Paw) and Ella Betzold (Essexville, Mich. / Garber) after falling behind, 1-0, early to the Eagles—who had yet to allow a goal at home in 2024. The lead lasted just six minutes as the Eagles (4-3-1, 0-0-1 MAC) found their equalizer.

"Proud of the team's grit today. We didn't start off the game well, but really dug deep and replied with two great goals."

Muessig extended her team-high tally to three goals on the season, which have come over the last four matches. Jocelin Zimmerer (Evergreen, Colo. / Evergreen) set up the fifth-year midfielder after intercepting a pass out of the box from the EMU keeper, finding Muessig in an open pocket to fire from straight away well-outside the 18'.

Betzold, a freshman, marked the first goal of her collegiate career after one of CMU's eight corner kicks was reduced to a scramble and initially cleared away before she collected and fired.

Another freshman, Grace Cameron (Clio, Mich. / Flint Powers), nearly found the go-ahead score at the start of the 65^th minute as CMU's seventh corner kick of the contest set up a near-identical play to Betzold's score in the first half. Unlike Betzold's line-drive strike, Cameron's shot carried just over the crossbar.

Allison LaPoint (Royal Oak, Mich. / Shrine Catholic) notched seven saves in the match, though her most impressive play came ahead of her sixth save in the 71^st minute. The senior keeper vacated her line to meet an EMU breakaway head-on at the 18' and diverted the run out toward the right corner, giving the Chippewas' back line a chance to reclaim its territory and herself time to reset for an Eagle shot, which see saved.

After four combined goals in the first half—matching as many that have been scored over the previous 200-plus minutes in the rivalry—both teams settled in defensively. CMU dominated in set attempts (6-0 in corners, 5-3 in free kicks) though settled for a 4-4 draw in shots attempted.

"A little disappointed we didn't take the 2-1 lead into half time. Lots of positives to take from the game and, also, areas we need to improve in."

Central Michigan Soccer returns to the CMU Soccer Complex Sunday for a 1 p.m. ET kickoff with Akron, one of two MAC programs to enter the conference slate undefeated.

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Team Stats

Ella Betzold

Claudia Muessig

Jocelin Zimmerer

Lauren Walker

Players Mentioned

Ella Betzold

Grace Cameron

Allison LaPoint

Claudia Muessig

Jocelin Zimmerer