Top MAC teams await CMU
The field hockey team begins the toughest weekend of its season today.
CMU closes out its regular season at home against the two toughest teams in the Mid-American Conference - Ohio and Kent State.
The Chippewas (5-11 overall, 4-4 MAC) face the No. 15-ranked Bobcats at 3 p.m. today, before finishing the regular season at 1 p.m. Saturday against the Golden Flashes.
"We just need to come out and play hard one game at a time, just play together as a team and build on the strengths that we have," said junior forward Samantha Sandham. "We really need to win to get good seeding."
The MAC Tournament begins Nov. 1, making the games against Ohio (14-4, 8-1) and Kent State (11-7, 6-3) more important.
CMU split a pair of games the last time it played Ohio and Kent State on consecutive days three weeks ago. Central lost 4-0 on Oct. 5 to the Bobcats in Athens, Ohio before beating the Golden Flashes, 4-1, the following day.
Coach Cristy Freese is aware of the challenge facing her team this weekend, but doesn't think it's anything her team can't handle.
"That weekend we didn't really have Sam and we were just starting to get Kelly Jordan back from injury," she said. "We're healthy and feel good about this weekend. They are certainly the two best teams in the conference right now. It would be nice to build some momentum. We're going to have to be at our peak both games."
Ohio is the seventh nationally-ranked team the Chippewas have faced this season. The Chippewas struggled early, losing to their first three ranked opponents, but are 1-2 in their last three after beating Michigan State and forcing overtime against Michigan. The last ranked team to beat CMU in regulation was the Bobcats.
"We've proven we can compete against the best tough teams out there," Sandham said. "We just need to focus on what we need to do to play 70 minutes of good hockey. If we do that we can beat anyone."
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