Freese wants better effort after shutout
Coach Cristy Freese sent her field hockey team a strong message after its 2-0 loss to Michigan Tuesday.
She thought her team lacked effort, and put them through grueling practices this week.
Freese will see if those hard practices worked when CMU plays Vermont today in Ann Arbor.
“Our intensity level must be higher against Vermont,” Freese said. “We have to execute better in the passing game and when taking shots. More quality shots that challenge the goalie must be taken.”
Senior Erica Takach said the team benefited from these practices.
“We had a very hard practice,” she said. “Everyone understands that we didn’t put forth the effort against Michigan. We know it was a game we could have won and should have won. Hopefully everyone understands now that we must give all our effort every time we step on the field.”
Catamount goalkeeper Ariel Eber is one of the best in the country statistically. She is ninth in the country with a .853 save percentage, has a 1.61 goals against average and 29 saves.
Vermont’s lack of goal scoring has been a troubling factor this season.
UVM (2-4) enters the game as one of the worst offensive teams in the American East Conference. The Catamounts have eight goals in six games, and are 2-29 on offensive penalty corner opportunities. Midfielder Nikki Desch is tied for the team lead in goals with two.
CMU enters today’s game leading the MAC in most offensive categories including: Assists, goals, points and shots. Junior Alicia Balanesi is the MAC’s leading scorer with 13 points and five goals. Balanesi and Takach are tied for the most assists with three each.
