Team needs win against Ball State in season finale
MAC Tournament and title implications are on the line for the CMU field hockey team today.
With a home victory against Ball State and a Louisville loss to Ohio, CMU could finish the regular season in second place. In that case, CMU would automatically advance to the second round of the MAC Tournament.
If CMU wins, Kent State loses twice and Louisville gets beat by Ohio, the Chippewas could have a share of the title.
“The only thing we can control is beating Ball State, and then we will see what happens,” said coach Cristy Freese. “We have only talked about the scenario once, and then our focus was on Ball State.”
For the first time since the 1998 season, CMU has two players that have double-digit goal totals. Senior Tarah Trottier has 10 goals and junior Kristy Reed has 11.
“Ball State and CMU have been two of the top offensive teams in the MAC,” Freese said. “Ball State’s Afton Hess has been the best player in the MAC, but you cannot key on only one person.”
The last time the two teams met, the Chippewas jumped out to a 3-0 lead, before Hess scored three unanswered goals to send the game to overtime. Ball State eventually won 4-3.
“There is no way we will let something like that happen again,” said senior mid-fielder Allison Foland. “This game is important, and if everyone plays tough for 70 minutes, we will win. We are on our own turf, and we’ll win for sure.”
Freese said Ball State has the advantage heading into the game.
“After coming back in the last game, BSU thinks no lead is insurmountable,” Freese said. “We are the team that lost the lead, and we know what we have to do.”
The Chippewas defense has been stingy lately, allowing four goals in four games. Junior Amy Kauffman leads the nation with 14 defensive saves, and freshman goalkeeper Danielle Frank has been playing well. Frank is 5-2 in the MAC with a 1.64 save goals against average.
“I put extra pressure on the entire team for the second time through the MAC season,” Freese said. “I am really pleased with how we are playing right now. When we are focused as a team, we are very good.”
Today will mark the last home game for seniors Katie Coccia, Jenny Rosen, Laura Plese, Kerri Krasnow, Foland and Trottier.
“All the parents will be there, and it will be the last chance for the seniors to play at home,” Foland said. “I am sure we will all play hard simply because of that, and because this game is huge.”
Even with a lot on the line today, Foland said no one is nervous.
“I don’t think anyone on our team is nervous, but I think everyone is really excited to get this chance to play,” Foland said. “Every game we have played lately has been big.”
