Field hockey team remains in title contention after weekend sweep
Sophomore Kelly Jordan put the field hockey team back into contention for the Mid-American Conference championship Sunday with one strike of her stick.
Jordan scored the game-winning goal at Missouri State to give CMU a 3-2 win.
“It felt good,” Jordan said. “We had to have it, and it just so happened that I was open.”
The Chippewas (8-7 overall) improved to 3-3 in the MAC, while the Bears drop to 5-8 overall and 1-5 in the conference.
CMU jumped out to a 2-0 lead with goals by sophomore Amanda Lucik and Jordan, but MSU came back to tie the game. Senior forward Alicia Balanesi recorded three assists.
The win puts the Chippewas a game and a half behind first place Ohio.
Ohio and Miami were at the top of the MAC with one loss each heading into the weekend. Ohio lost 3-2 to Ball State on Friday and won 1-0 in double overtime Saturday against Miami.
Weekend recap
Saturday: CMU 4, Missouri State 2
Sunday: CMU 3, Missouri State 2
Amanda Lucik (So.) 3 total goals
“There was a lot of action in the MAC this weekend, and now we are back into the thick of things,” said coach Cristy Freese. “We control our own destiny.”
The Bobcats are at the top of the MAC standings at 5-2. Miami and Ball State, both 4-2, trail by a half-game.
“This weekend was huge,” Lucik said. “It gives us a chance to win a championship.”
Four MAC games remain for CMU, including a game against each of the top three teams.
In the game Saturday, CMU jumped out to a 2-0 lead behind goals from Lucik and sophomore forward Samantha Sandham in a 4-2 win.
The Bears fought back to tie the game on a goal from Stephanie Wehrman. Lucik and Sandham added two more goals.
“We tried to center the ball more for crosses,” Lucik said. “I was there on the side of the post to put it in.”
A key to the Chippewas’ success was scoring first against the Bears. This weekend marked the first time Central scored first in a game since a 2-1 loss to Ball State on Sept. 29.
“We started out strong, and I think that was important,” Freese said.
Central hosts Michigan State at 4 p.m. Tuesday at the CMU Field Hockey Complex.
