UPDATED: CMU allows two goals late, loses 2-1 at West Virginia

Updated: 6:45 p.m. Sunday

The dominant defense of Central Michigan fell apart late Saturday against West Virginia as the Chippewas allowed two goals in the final 12 minutes to lose 2-1 in Morgantown, West Virginia.

CMU head coach Tom Anagnost stressed during the week that his team wanted to come out aggressive and senior Valarie Prause answered the call, scoring in the fourth minute to put the Chippewas up 1-0 early.

It was the defense, however, that could not hold up its end of the bargain this time.

During the 78th minute, West Virginia sophomore Bry McCarthy scored her first goal of the season, capitalizing on a free kick from 25 yards out following a CMU foul, to tie the game at 1.

“They capitalized on a free kick that they had,” said Prause. “They didn’t really out play us, however; they capitalized on their opportunities.”

The momentum continued for the Mountaineers in the 84th minute, as senior Megan Mischler also scored her first of the season to give the Mountaineers the lead and win. Sophomore Bri Rodriguez took a shot that hit off the crossbar, but Mischler put the rebound past CMU senior goalkeeper Shay Mannino.

Despite losing to both Iowa and West Virginia, Anagnost praised the effort of his team, and knew his team was capable of competing against them.

“This is something we believed in all along and yesterday confirms it,” he said. “Having been here for a few years now, I guess it demonstrates how far we’ve come, but how far we have to go to be a spectacular team.”

Despite striking first, CMU was outshot, 20-17, for the first time this season.

“We need to beat those teams, not just play with them,” Prause said. “That’s the next step.”

For the first time this season, sophomore Stefanie Turner did not see action in the game. Mannino played all 90 minutes, allowing two goals on 20 West Virginia shots, making five saves.

CMU (3-2) has about two weeks off before traveling to Detroit on Sept. 17.