Young defense a concern
A primary concern for field hockey coach Cristy Freese was the defense.
After a three-goal first period by Michigan State Sunday in a 6-2 exhibition loss, the concern still remains.
“It is pretty evident we need to work on our defense,” Freese said. “We made some mistakes, especially in the first period.”
The Chippewas’ lost backs Laura Glaza and Kim Ferris to graduation.
That leaves junior Erin Dottery to anchor a young defense.
“I am just trying to be a leader,” Dottery said. “I just let them know where they need to be and try to lead by example.”
CMU allowed the second lowest goals per game in the Mid-American Conference at 2.51 goals per game, and had three shutouts last season.
“It would concern me more if we played defense like that three weeks from now,” Freese said. “That is what these games are for. We just need to work on some things.”
The teams played three 20 minute periods at the Field Hockey Complex in an exhibition game.
CMU settled down after the first period. It allowed just three more goals in the next two periods.
“Our intensity was really good in the third period,” Dottery said. “We were playing really well with each other.”
The Chippewas’ goals were scored by freshman Samantha Sandham and Dottery.
This is the first of three weekends of exhibition games for CMU. It plays games against Kent State, Michigan State and Northwestern Saturday in Ann Arbor.
