Field hockey goes 1-1, still leads MAC
The field hockey team split a pair of MAC games this weekend at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.
The Chippewas lost to Louisville 1-0 Friday, and Sunday beat Miami 4-2. CMU is 13-5 overall and 6-2 in the MAC.
The Chippewas were down early against Miami when Lindi Bortnik scored 12:53 into the game. CMU then scored four consecutive goals, before Bortnik got her second of the game with only 4:23 left in the game.
Sophomore Michelle Fogle scored twice to give her six on the season.
“We were pressuring Miami very well today and made them make mistakes,” Fogle said. “We had the ball in our offensive end for pretty much the entire game.”
Junior Allison Foland scored her third goal of the season to make it 3-1 at halftime. Sophomore Kristy Reed added her team-high 10th goal on a pass from senior Maria Neiswender to close out the scoring for CMU.
“It was nice that we won because it was Parents Day and everyone got to see their daughters play. I thought we pretty much dominated the game,” Freese said. “We gave Miami some confidence at the end and we didn’t really need to do that.”
The Chippewas had a lot of high hits against Louisville and Freese wanted to cut down on those in the Miami game.
“On Friday I wasn’t happy with the way we hit the ball,” Freese said. “I think we hit the ball a lot better today and we are confident now and want to win the conference.”
It was the last time the seniors would play a game at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.
“It was a really exciting and fun game,” said senior Meg Lewis. “This is a great group of girls and it was a good game to end with.”
Lewis was also named to the National Field Hockey Coaches Association Division I North/South senior all-star game. She will play midfield for the South team.
“There is only three or four other girls from the MAC that are on the team, so it is a huge honor for Meg,” Freese said. “We play a tough schedule and teams have seen Meg’s abilities.”
The Chippewas outshot Louisville 14-4, but could not put a shot past Christy Hershey, who picked up her fifth shutout of the season.
“We had our chances, we just didn’t convert on them,” said Head Coach Cristy Freese. “Statistically, we outplayed Louisville, but the only thing that matters is what the scoreboard says at the end of the game. We aren’t looking for any moral victories.”
Freese said she is confident the team can play with top teams.
“Louisville is No. 9 and we know we can compete at that level,” she said. “Our defense played well, we just need to score against top teams.”
The Chippewas finish off the regular season November 1-2 with games at Ohio and Kent State.
