CMU field hockey loses final conference game
Central Michigan ends the season with a 0-7 record in the Mid-American Conference
After giving up a goal in the second quarter, Central Michigan field hockey needed to respond. Less than a minute after the Ohio University Bobcats scored the first goal of the game, the Chippewas found themselves with an opportunity.
Sophomore midfielder Cosima Perleth dribbled the ball into the Ohio shooting circle and found junior forward Mallory Camryn in front of the goal with a pass. After some stick handling, Camryn shot it into the net to tie the match.
In a game that was focused around the two offenses, both teams found success in the attacking zones. The match was close throughout, with neither team taking more than a one goal lead from start to finish. However, it was the Bobcats that had the slight edge when the clock ran out, coming away with the 3-2 victory.
“I think we came out and played a really great first half,” Johnstone said. “I think we did a good job of really capitalizing on opportunities we had and really limiting their chances… We had a bit of a letdown in the third quarter and then tried to turn it on again in the fourth. So, again, it kind of just goes back to that message of playing 60 minutes and how important it is.”
Neither team was able to grab the advantage as the game began. Ohio put pressure on the Chippewas early, but the Bobcats were unable to score on their first couple of shots.
Towards the end of the first quarter, the Bobcats were given a penalty corner chance, but the Chippewas cleared the ball and kept the game scoreless going into the second.
The Chippewas controlled possession in the beginning of the second quarter. However, it was the Bobcats that scored the first goal of the match. At the 22:10 mark of the game, senior midfielder Noa Desmaretz found some space right in front of the net to take the lead for Ohio.
The Chippewas responded quickly, scoring a goal of their own less than a minute after the Bobcat score as Camryn found the net. Camryn now has 10 goals on the season.
“I think Mallory (Camryn) is just such a driven athlete,” Johnstone said. “If she's by the cage and she's open, she's gonna try to find a way to score. And if the goalie or defense have drawn to her, or they're double teaming her, she's going to find a way to get it to a teammate to set them up for success.”
Both teams picked up the pace after the goals. With about two and a half minutes left in the first half, the Bobcats were awarded a penalty corner and made the most of their opportunity. Senior midfielder Bodhi Littlefield took the inbounds pass from junior backer Emily Rissler and fired the ball into the net from the outer edge of the shooting circle to take the lead back for Ohio.
The first half ended with a score of 2-1. Both teams were aggressive in the second quarter, taking a combined 11 shots.
Central Michigan began to take control of the game after halftime. The Chippewa defense kept the Bobcats in check while the offense kept rolling.
At about the 37 minute mark of the game, sophomore backer Klara Mikulaskova took the pass from Perleth on a corner attempt, found an open lane, and scored a goal to tie the game up for the Chippewas. Perleth assisted on both of the CMU goals during the match.
Central Michigan only had one penalty corner opportunity throughout the game.
“We only had one corner, we scored on it,” Johnstone said. “I certainly wish we had more corner opportunities for sure because we were successful on them. That was definitely an area today that we normally are really strong in and struggled with.”
Ohio found their offensive footing late in the third quarter. The Bobcats were again given a penalty corner, their fifth of the game, with 4:07 left in the period. Junior forward Sasha Dikotla tipped in a shot from Risser to score Ohio’s third goal of the game.
Central Michigan was unable to score in the fourth quarter, leading to its 13th loss of the season. The Chippewas end conference play with a 0-7 record.
“I'm proud of the progress this team has made in just one year's time,” Johnstone said. “To think where we were a year ago when we played these MAC (Mid-American Conference) teams and to see where we are now means we're just getting so much closer.”
The Chippewas will close out their season with a road game against Ohio State on Sunday at 1 p.m.
