Field hockey challenge MAC nemesis in semifinals of MAC tournament
Every season comes down to a tight race of some sorts to finish the regular season.
This season there was a three-way tie for second place in Mid-American Conference field hockey, with only four teams advance into the MAC tournament. CMU field hockey lost in double-overtime on its last game of the season to Miami (Ohio). The following day Ohio defeated Kent State, tying the three-way knot.
The seeds depended on best record and head-to-head matchups. The Chippewas were given the lowest end of the three-way tie, receiving the No. 4 seed. Which means CMU will face Kent State in the semifinals for the fifth time in six years.
Of those five matchups, the Golden Flashes have one every one. The seniors on the Chippewa team have never beat Kent State, not even in the regular season.
“For how close these MAC teams are, it anyone’s game,” said senior midfielder Skylar VanNatta. “It comes down to who can bring it at that time.”
For the seniors, this semifinal matchup means more to them than most, having never beaten the Golden Flashes. Also the last two games of their junior year, Kent State won in double-overtime for the Chippewas to lose the MAC title and beat them a week later to knock them out of the MAC tournament.
“We haven’t beat Kent in a while," VanNatta said. "If we show up on the day prepared, that’s the only games that counts."
The Golden Flashes have eliminated the seniors in every MAC tournament, they have proven to be CMU's nemesis.
Losing to Kent State isn’t new for the Chippewas, historically they have struggled against their Mid-American Conference rival with a combined record of 13-50 in all competitions.
“I think Kent is our nemesis, I don’t know if any of the four teams liked their draws but it will be an interesting tournament,” said head field hockey coach Cristy Freese. “This senior class has been starting for a long time and they know they can win the conference, this would mean a lot, but Kent is just the semifinal game, we have to take it one game at a time.”
The biggest factor going into the semifinal matchup is the Chippewas offense. They average 1.41 goals per game when the Golden Flashes average over three. CMU has the defensive power to contain Kent State
Kent State averages giving up three goals a game and the Chippewas give up less than two.
A direct correlation to goals is the shots per game, the Golden Flashes more than double the shots of CMU in games.
“I think we need to be more offensive, since we are a primarily defensive team,” said senior forward Bailey McKeon. “We just need to score the goals early, and get more shots in general, give ourselves more opportunities.”
The last key to a Chippewas MAC championship berth is to be able to win away from home. CMU has one win away from home this year, but have the advantage of playing in Oxford, Ohio in their previous match, less than a week before the semifinal.
“I think it will help us, I don’t necessarily think it’s being away as much as the need to score more goals,” Freese said. “When we look at us after the season, defensively were number one on defense, Sadie (Reynolds) is number one in save percentage and goals against average.”
The Chippewas have their shot at defeating their MAC nemesis at 11:30 Friday in Oxford, Ohio. If victorious, the MAC tournament championship will be at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
