Pair of Sandham goals propel first MAC win
A two-week stretch of frustration ended for the field hockey team against Kent State on Saturday.
Sophomore Samantha Sandham took a pass from sophomore forward Kelly Jordan and tipped in a goal from the opposite side of the net to give Central a 2-1 overtime win at the Field Hockey Complex.
“We just wanted it more,” Sandham said. “It was a play that we had worked on in practice.”
The win snapped a four-game losing streak, giving the team its first Mid-American Conference win of the season.
“It was nice for the kids to be rewarded with a win,” said coach Cristy Freese. “This losing streak was bogging us down a bit.”
Sandham scored both CMU goals as the team overcame an early 1-0 deficit.
Central improved its record to 1-3 in the MAC and 6-6 overall.
Kate Perry scored at the 5:36 mark to give KSU the lead, but Central would go on to dominate much of the game.
The Golden Flashes held their lead until the 47:18 mark when Sandham dribbled the ball to the top of the circle and fired in a goal to tie the game.
CMU outshot Kent State 22-8 and held a 17-2 advantage on penalty corners.
Senior goalie Danielle Frank finished with five saves, including several late stops to give the Chippewas the opportunity to win the game.
“We tried to work on what we were doing,” she said. “I just knew if we kept putting it on goal we would eventually score.”
Central lost 3-1 to Ohio on Friday. The Bobcats had a 1-0 lead until early in the second half when senior Alicia Balanesi put in a rebound off the shot of Jordan.
Ohio’s Celine McNamara gave the Bobcats the lead for good and a penalty stroke by Torrie Albini gave the Bobcats an insurance goal.
CMU plays at 4 p.m. Tuesday in Ann Arbor against Michigan.
