Back in the MAC race
The field hockey team went into the weekend needing two wins to stay in the Mid-American Conference race.
It got just what it needed.
The team beat Miami University 3-2 Saturday and Ball State 4-3 Friday.
Central (10-8, 5-3 MAC) has rattled off five consecutive MAC wins to bring it one game behind conference-leading Ohio. The two teams meet Friday in Athens, Ohio.
“The team responded well ever since last weekend in Missouri,” said coach Cristy Freese, “But now we have another meaningful weekend.”
Sophomore Kelly Jordan and senior Alicia Balanesi scored first half goals to give the Chippewas a 2-1 lead over Miami at halftime.
Sophomore midfielder Samantha Sandham put the team up 3-1 at the 19:49 mark, but the lead wouldn’t last as the RedHawks (7-11, 4-4 MAC) answered 35 seconds later.
But senior goalkeeper Danielle Frank stopped three shots to preserve the win.
“I just tried to keep it all out of my head and focus on the game and just not let up anymore goals,” Frank said.
Friday’s win drew CMU into a second place tie with the Cardinals (5-3, 6-10).
Balanesi and Sandham each had two goals and an assist to lead Central.
Weekend recap
CMU 3, Miami University 2 (Saturday)
CMU 4, Ball Sate 3 (Friday)
The pair of wins put CMU in second place, one game behind Mid-American
Conference leader Ohio.
BSU scored two goals in about a minute to cut Central’s lead to 3-2. But Balanesi scored at the 51:15 mark to secure the win.
“The whole team worked well together to get the ball up the field,” Balanesi said. “To be able to finish it was a great feeling.”
CMU finished the regular season with games at Ohio and Kent State on Saturday.
