CMU frustrated entering postseason
The field hockey team's regular season did not end the way it would have liked.
Central continued a late-season debacle with its fifth straight loss Saturday against Kent State at the CMU Field Hockey Complex.
The Chippewas appeared to be in position to make a strong run going into the Mid-American Conference Tournament two weeks ago, but lost 3-0 on Friday to No. 15 Ohio University, and 1-0 on Saturday to the Golden Flashes.
"I'm disappointed, I thought we had a better team," said coach Cristy Freese. "We needed more from everybody. Unfortunately we weren't able to, due to our youth."
The Chippewas (5-13 overall, 4-6 MAC) enter next week's MAC Tournament as the No. 4 seed, while Kent State holds the No. 2 slot. CMU faces No. 5 seed Ball State at noon Thursday in Oxford, Ohio.
Two weeks ago Central was 4-2 in the MAC with a chance to gain momentum going into the tournament before losing to the Bobcats (15-4, 9-1) and Golden Flashes (12-7, 7-3).
Central struggled on offense all weekend, managing only two shots in each game. The defense did its best to keep the game close, but the offense was unable to generate any scoring chances.
Kent State took advantage of a scoreless first half Saturday to wear down CMU before Laurie Wilkins put a shot past CMU freshman goalkeeper Louise Gericke.
"I think our defense did a really good job," Gericke said. "There is good communication. I think our offense lacked a little bit because we couldn't put it away."
The Golden Flashes outshot Central 13-2 and held a 9-2 advantage in penalty corners.
Ohio and Kent State were clearly more physical than the Chippewas during the weekend. Regardless, Freese does not think her team let their relative lack of size get to them.
"I don't think our team was intimidated," Freese said. "We do historically tend to be a little smaller. I don't think it is the size as much as it is the skill that matters."
Samantha Sandham was frustrated following Saturday's game.
The junior forward leads the team with 20 points and is 11th in the nation with 10 assists, but wasn't happy with the way her offensive unit closed the regular season.
"We got work to do," Sandham said. "We know that we're a good team and I think what was disappointing was that we weren't able to show it."
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