Soccer wins on Senior Day, still alive in MAC Tournament race
Scoring three goals against Akron on Senior Day, the Central Michigan University soccer team kept their conference tournament hopes alive.
Junior Kaelyn Korte scored two goals Sunday in CMU’s 3-0 win over the Zips.
"We know we have to win the rest of our games,” said senior forward Emily Cooksey. "It feels good to get a win that will give us good momentum going forward.”
After being outshot 17-4 and losing to fellow Mid-American Conference team Buffalo on Friday, the women bounced back in front of their home fans.
Outshooting Akron 14-12 the Chippewas recorded season high numbers in goals and shots on goal .
"We could have played better,” Cooksey said. "We had a few chances we could have finished, but we didn’t. It was still a good building block.”
Korte was the biggest standout during the match. She only needed two shots to score her two goals and was strong on defense.
"She has really embraced the number six role,” said head coach Peter McGahey. "She bossed the game today. She shut down their attack with her tackles and interceptions.”
The win gives CMU six points in the MAC standings. CMU now sits four points out of the final conference tournament spot, which is currently occupied by Western Michigan.
With nine points still available through their last few games of the season, the Chippewas said all of their goals remain in front of them.
"Our ability to leave points on the table at any point does not exist,” McGahey said. "We have to get strange results to go our way. We have to run the race all the way until the end. If you don’t, you never know how you would have finished.”
Senior Day Showcase
The Chippewas celebrated the legacy of three seniors on Sunday afternoon. Laura Gosse, Jennifer Gassman and Emily Cooskey all played their final Sunday match in Mount Pleasant.
Cooksey said the fact she is playing in her senior season has still not fully set in.
"It’s kind of weird,” Cooksey said. "It doesn’t seem like it was too long ago that we were freshman setting up signs for the seniors.”
The seniors are making the most of their final season with the program. The group has combined for 22 of CMU’s 38 points and have all scored goals at crucial points during various games this season.
"Not everyone makes it through college soccer,” said forward Laura Gosse. "It is a testament to our character because we have been able to stick with it the past four years.”
McGahey said the 2014 senior class has done a solid job of laying the foundation for future generations of CMU soccer players.
"This senior class’s legacy will leave behind a base of family, championship culture and hard work,” McGahey said. "When you look at the last chapters of these three seniors, you are very proud of the legacy they are leaving for the younger ones."
