Central Michigan University Athletics
Saturday, September 7
Orono, Maine / UMaine Field Hockey Complex
2:00 PM
Central Michigan University
3
vs
2
Hofstra
Photo by: Josie Ransley '25,M'27 - @josieransmedia
Field Hockey Downs Hofstra, 3-2, in Double Overtime
9/7/2024 6:32:00 PM | Field Hockey
ORONO, Maine. — Central Michigan fought hard to come back from an 0-1 deficit with just 15 minutes to do so on Saturday, and boy, did it pay off.
What began as an 0-1 fourth period looming on the Chippewas turned into a 3-2, double overtime win over Hofstra at Maine's UMaine Field Hockey Complex.
"Going into today's game, because we spent the past two days doing team building on the road, I think there was a stronger cohesiveness and togetherness," said Head Coach Jennifer Johnstone. "Throughout the whole game, I felt confident and I think we all knew it was going to be our game because we were working so hard and we played so well together.
"I don't know that we ever let up regardless of the score, we tried to maintain the same pace of play and we really focused on the things we knew we needed to do to be successful against Hofstra. The team executed really well in terms of the adjustments we made. I felt really confident because I felt they were all in it and were going to do their very best and would not let anything come between them and the game."
The Chippewas were met with victory in the 73rd minute of play, with both teams scrapping for the ball in CMU's territory.
Sophomore back Hailey Bainer sent a long, connecting pass through Hofstra's defense, meeting the stick of Mallory Camryn dead-on. With no one there to stop her, Camryn made her way past the Pride keeper, scoring the game-winner.
CMU is now 3-1 on the season, having picked up wins against Saint Louis and a nonleague win against Mid-American Conference opponent Bellarmine. It is the first time the Chippewas have won in double overtime since the adapted 2021 spring season, where CMU defeated Appalachian State, 3-2.
It is also the first time the Chippewas have made a 3-1 start since Spring 2021. However, CMU did not play a full nonleague slate due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to Spring 2021, the last time CMU started 3-1 was 2012, which included a 1-0 win over Sunday's opponent, Maine.
"Between the scrimmage with Michigan State and the game at Bellarmine, I think we had a lot of confidence going into overtime because we've had some good success," Johnstone said. "Because we have so much depth and versatility, we can roll subs in over time which is different than other teams, and that allows us to play at a high pace and high intensity.
"Overtime is something I think we're well suited for."
The Chippewas could not find the back of the cage in the first three quarters, amassing seven shots in the 45-minute span. Just four of those shots were on target. Hofstra's Jamie McMillan found the back of the cage in the middle of the second period off a penalty corner, a direct shot from the stick-stop.
Zoey Emrick ignited CMU in the fourth, taking a pass from Camryn to the back of the cage just 45 seconds into the period to tie the game, 1-1.
With three minutes to play in the fourth, the Chippewas scored again, this time by Isabella D'Alessandro from Carolena Ryon.
"I sort of feel like we gained momentum as the game went on," said Johnstone. "We were up 2-1 in the fourth quarter and with under two minutes, we tried to stall. When they stole the ball, we gave up a corner which caused that tying goal and for us, I don't think it was something we thought was going to happen, but in my mind I was so focused on us and what we were doing well, I knew we were going to come out on top regardless of what happened in OT.
Hofstra forced overtime with 30 seconds to spare, triggering a pair of gritty overtime periods.
CMU put all four of its shots on target in overtime. Through all 6 periods, CMU took 13 shots, 10 of which were on goal. The Pride took 12, with six on-mark.
Sophomore back Klára Mikulášková took three shots, two on goal. Camryn, Emrick, Ryon and Violet Barton took two each.
"What's really fun about all of our goals today is that the goal-scorer's teammates made the right decisions in a time where they could set their teammate up for success," Johnstone said. "Mallory did it for Zoey's goal, Lena did it for Bella's goal and Hailey did it for Mallory's goal, and I think for me, it's exciting to see us playing selfless hockey and being able to play the ball through when it's open or when a teammate is open by the cage.
"That's allowing us to generate a lot of offense and score, it's exciting that the philosophy (of playing selfless hockey) is sticking, and you can see it across all of our lines."
Freshman Jenna Billig made her second career start and spent the full 73 minutes in goal. She made four saves and is now 2-0 on the season.
"I'm really proud of Jenna," Johnstone added. "She played the whole game, and she played really confidently today. Our defense had a lot of major stops, and I'm just really happy because it was a game where we kind of got to use everybody, and they all went in, had a role and did their very best.
"It's just a tribute to how hard they're working as a team and how focused they are on what they want to accomplish this season. It's really exciting to see."
CMU will stay in Orono for one more outing, taking on the hosting Black Bears, Johnstone's alma mater and the previous school of Camryn, on Sunday (1 p.m.) at the UMaine Field Hockey Complex.
"It was definitely surreal to be there today," said Johnstone about being back in Orono. "To play Hofstra and be back in the place that I am so thankful that I had such a great field hockey experience as a player, now to be on the other side of it and be coaching my team at Central Michigan there, it's almost a full circle moment.
"It made me think about the coaches that I had and the players I coaches throughout the years, and (this weekend) I've seen my former teammates and former players that I've coached, they're coming to the game and saying hello, so it means a lot to have support while we're here because this is a place that I've called home for so long."
"We know Maine is going to be a tough team, I think it's going to be a pretty physical game, we're prepared for that, we're ready. Our goal is to play the same way we did today, we want to make sure we're well equipped to handle their strengths and how we're going to counter those. We hope for the best as well, and regardless of the outcome of the game, this experience will pay dividends for us as we get ready for conference play."
What began as an 0-1 fourth period looming on the Chippewas turned into a 3-2, double overtime win over Hofstra at Maine's UMaine Field Hockey Complex.
"Going into today's game, because we spent the past two days doing team building on the road, I think there was a stronger cohesiveness and togetherness," said Head Coach Jennifer Johnstone. "Throughout the whole game, I felt confident and I think we all knew it was going to be our game because we were working so hard and we played so well together.
"I don't know that we ever let up regardless of the score, we tried to maintain the same pace of play and we really focused on the things we knew we needed to do to be successful against Hofstra. The team executed really well in terms of the adjustments we made. I felt really confident because I felt they were all in it and were going to do their very best and would not let anything come between them and the game."
The Chippewas were met with victory in the 73rd minute of play, with both teams scrapping for the ball in CMU's territory.
Sophomore back Hailey Bainer sent a long, connecting pass through Hofstra's defense, meeting the stick of Mallory Camryn dead-on. With no one there to stop her, Camryn made her way past the Pride keeper, scoring the game-winner.
CMU is now 3-1 on the season, having picked up wins against Saint Louis and a nonleague win against Mid-American Conference opponent Bellarmine. It is the first time the Chippewas have won in double overtime since the adapted 2021 spring season, where CMU defeated Appalachian State, 3-2.
It is also the first time the Chippewas have made a 3-1 start since Spring 2021. However, CMU did not play a full nonleague slate due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to Spring 2021, the last time CMU started 3-1 was 2012, which included a 1-0 win over Sunday's opponent, Maine.
"Between the scrimmage with Michigan State and the game at Bellarmine, I think we had a lot of confidence going into overtime because we've had some good success," Johnstone said. "Because we have so much depth and versatility, we can roll subs in over time which is different than other teams, and that allows us to play at a high pace and high intensity.
"Overtime is something I think we're well suited for."
The Chippewas could not find the back of the cage in the first three quarters, amassing seven shots in the 45-minute span. Just four of those shots were on target. Hofstra's Jamie McMillan found the back of the cage in the middle of the second period off a penalty corner, a direct shot from the stick-stop.
Zoey Emrick ignited CMU in the fourth, taking a pass from Camryn to the back of the cage just 45 seconds into the period to tie the game, 1-1.
With three minutes to play in the fourth, the Chippewas scored again, this time by Isabella D'Alessandro from Carolena Ryon.
"I sort of feel like we gained momentum as the game went on," said Johnstone. "We were up 2-1 in the fourth quarter and with under two minutes, we tried to stall. When they stole the ball, we gave up a corner which caused that tying goal and for us, I don't think it was something we thought was going to happen, but in my mind I was so focused on us and what we were doing well, I knew we were going to come out on top regardless of what happened in OT.
Hofstra forced overtime with 30 seconds to spare, triggering a pair of gritty overtime periods.
CMU put all four of its shots on target in overtime. Through all 6 periods, CMU took 13 shots, 10 of which were on goal. The Pride took 12, with six on-mark.
Sophomore back Klára Mikulášková took three shots, two on goal. Camryn, Emrick, Ryon and Violet Barton took two each.
"What's really fun about all of our goals today is that the goal-scorer's teammates made the right decisions in a time where they could set their teammate up for success," Johnstone said. "Mallory did it for Zoey's goal, Lena did it for Bella's goal and Hailey did it for Mallory's goal, and I think for me, it's exciting to see us playing selfless hockey and being able to play the ball through when it's open or when a teammate is open by the cage.
"That's allowing us to generate a lot of offense and score, it's exciting that the philosophy (of playing selfless hockey) is sticking, and you can see it across all of our lines."
Freshman Jenna Billig made her second career start and spent the full 73 minutes in goal. She made four saves and is now 2-0 on the season.
"I'm really proud of Jenna," Johnstone added. "She played the whole game, and she played really confidently today. Our defense had a lot of major stops, and I'm just really happy because it was a game where we kind of got to use everybody, and they all went in, had a role and did their very best.
"It's just a tribute to how hard they're working as a team and how focused they are on what they want to accomplish this season. It's really exciting to see."
CMU will stay in Orono for one more outing, taking on the hosting Black Bears, Johnstone's alma mater and the previous school of Camryn, on Sunday (1 p.m.) at the UMaine Field Hockey Complex.
"It was definitely surreal to be there today," said Johnstone about being back in Orono. "To play Hofstra and be back in the place that I am so thankful that I had such a great field hockey experience as a player, now to be on the other side of it and be coaching my team at Central Michigan there, it's almost a full circle moment.
"It made me think about the coaches that I had and the players I coaches throughout the years, and (this weekend) I've seen my former teammates and former players that I've coached, they're coming to the game and saying hello, so it means a lot to have support while we're here because this is a place that I've called home for so long."
"We know Maine is going to be a tough team, I think it's going to be a pretty physical game, we're prepared for that, we're ready. Our goal is to play the same way we did today, we want to make sure we're well equipped to handle their strengths and how we're going to counter those. We hope for the best as well, and regardless of the outcome of the game, this experience will pay dividends for us as we get ready for conference play."
Players Mentioned
B
/ Field Hockey
MF
/ Field Hockey
GK
/ Field Hockey
F
/ Field Hockey
F
/ Field Hockey
F
/ Field Hockey
F
/ Field HockeyField Hockey vs Appalachian State
Friday, October 10
Field Hockey vs Ohio
Sunday, September 28
Field Hockey vs James Madison
Friday, September 19
Field Hockey vs Mercyhurst
Sunday, September 07