Pelafas breaks all-time scoring record in loss to Kent State
Junior forward Lexi Pelafas hugs her teammate after scoring a goal on Sept. 16 at the Soccer Complex.
Lexi Pelafas is no stranger to making history.
The junior forward scored a program all-time best of 16 goals during the 2016 season for the Central Michigan soccer team. As a sophomore, Pelafas already earned the No. 6 spot on the all-time career goals leaders with 20.
During the Chippewas' 1-2 loss in their Mid-American Conference conference opener against Kent State on Friday night, Pelafas claimed the top spot and cemented herself into the CMU soccer record books with a running total of 27 career goals.
"It's humbling. It's inspiring," McGahey said. "It certainly inspires her teammates. It's inspires us a coaching staff to try to be our best every day."
After tying the all-time record with a hat trick against Mount Saint Mary's on Sept. 10, Pelafas was proud of her achievement.
“I’m humbled by it,” Pelafas said. “It’s an honor. My teammates setting me up for it, I’m just finishing the goals. So, thanks to my teammates for giving me the great balls.”
CMU falls to 5-3-1 overall and 0-1 in the MAC with the loss.
"It was a tale of two halves," McGahey said. "In the second half, Kent State kind of turned up the pressure, taking advantage of a couple of breakdowns and really made us pay for those things."
Offensively, on paper, CMU played a winning game. The Chippewas outshot the Golden Flashes 17-9 and had six more shots on goal than Kent State, which scored two goals off just three shots on goal.
CMU will head to Athens, Ohio for a 1 p.m. Sunday game against Ohio. The Bobcats enter Sunday 4-5 overall and 1-0 in the MAC.
"We need to continue to bounce back," McGahey said. "(We need to) continue to focus on the relationships that are strong because those are the things that will carry us through."
