Soccer Leashes Huskies, 2-0, Mark Best MAC Start since 2016

DEKALB, Ill. — "It's amazing what a bit of confidence and belief will do for you."

Central Michigan Soccer jumped out to its best start in Mid-American Conference play since 2016 Thursday with a 2-0 road victory over Northern Illinois, a program previously-unbeaten at its home pitch.

"I'm extremely proud of our performance today against a really good NIU side, who, before today, hadn't lost at home yet this season," Head Coach Jeremy Groves said.

The Chippewas logged the game-winner in the 58^th minute as Jocelin Zimmerer (Evergreen, Colo. / Evergreen) connected for a header, assisted from the opposite side of the goal by Lauren Walker (Essexville, Mich. / Garber). The wait for the seal-breaker was not without a handful of quality opportunities earlier on.

"We started off the game brilliantly, created three great chances, and I thought we were a little unlucky to go in at halftime tied."

CMU found a pair goals within minutes of each other for the third straight time on the road as Rachel Jackson (Bloomfield Hills, Mich. / Detroit Country Day) logged her second strike of the season in the 61^st minute as she, too, headed in a feed from across the box, this time from Ashley Scesniak (Hoffman Estates, Ill. / William Fremd).

"We found a way in the second half. Two great services in the box and two brilliant headers. It was so nice to keep another clean sheet too."

Allison LaPoint (Royal Oak, Mich. / Shrine Catholic) was called upon just twice in Thursday's bout to go with just one save against Akron Sunday, after averaging over 7.50 saves per game through the first eight matches of the season, though she did face six of NIU's 12 shot attempts for the game in the final 10 minutes.

Central Michigan logged its first road shutout in MAC play since October 6, 2022 (1-0 at Western Michigan), shutouts in back-to-back games for the first time since October 3, 2021 (v. NIU, at WMU) and a shutout with a margin of victory of at least two goals for the first time since March 21, 2021 (3-0 at NIU).

"We will enjoy this one and then, tomorrow, we will start to think about another big game Sunday against a very good Western team."

Sunday's match with the arch-rival Broncos has been dubbed Hooligans' Day at the CMU Soccer Complex, offering CMU students cow bells upon entry and endline seating to spark a rowdy home environment. The directive from Coach Groves is clear.

"We need everyone there Sunday, and to be loud!"

Central Michigan Soccer will have a full week to rest after its battle with Western Michigan, Sunday at 1 p.m., before visiting Toledo the following Sunday (Oct. 6). Sunday's matchup with WMU will be the final weekend home game for the Chippewas for the 2024 regular season.

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Team Stats

Rachel Jackson

Jocelin Zimmerer

Lauren Walker

Ashley Scesniak

Players Mentioned

Rachel Jackson

Allison LaPoint

Ashley Scesniak

Lauren Walker

Jocelin Zimmerer