Despite early lead, field hockey falls to Stanford 2-1
Beating No. 11 Stanford was just out of reach for the Central Michigan field hockey team Monday as the Chippewas fell in East Lansing 2-1.
CMU looked like it might go undefeated in its three games over Labor Day weekend, when it took a 1-0 lead on a goal by senior Erin Dye in the 22nd minute.But it was not meant to be.
“I think we started the game strong,” senior goalkeeper Anastasia Netto said. “It showed we didn’t care what their rank was. We were coming out to win.”
The Cardinal ratcheted up the shots on goal in the second half and scored two goals, denying the Chippewas’ attempt to defeat another ranked opponent, after beating No. 22 Maine 1-0 Saturday in Ann Arbor.
Stanford had more success in the second half because they did not go through the middle of the CMU defense as often as they did in the first, CMU head coach Cristy Freese said.
After Netto shutout the Blue Hens, she stopped a barrage of shots coming from the Cardinal, making eight saves.
“Let me tell you, Anna played very very well,” Freese said. “She made enough spectacular saves, (and) the nice thing is she knows what she needs to work on to continue to get better.”
Netto started off the slate of games subpar, allowing two goals in the last six minutes of regulation in their 4-3 overtime win against Delaware Friday in Ann Arbor.
She said spending less time warming up led to the improvement from her first game of the weekend.
“I enjoy playing a great deal,” Netto said. “I have made some modifications so that I can be better prepared for the game, but not overdo it, having too much fun.”
She saved 85 percent of the shots on goal in the last two games – about 13 percent higher than her 2011 season average.
The Chippewa offense did not challenge Stanford goalkeeper Dulcie Davies, only shooting three shots on goal.
Dye’s goal was off a penalty corner, assisted by Cayleigh Immelman, who tallied her first two points of the season this weekend.
CMU has next weekend off, after playing three games in four days this week. The Chippewas will be back in action Sept. 14 when they take on Louisville to open the Michigan State Tournament.
“The best thing I got out of the weekend is really knowing, specifically, what we need to work on,” Freese said. “And we have got 11 days to get that done, which will be nice.”
