CMU plays UDM to scoreless draw, Anagnost disappointed in offense

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DETROIT – Sophomore goalie Stefanie Turner earned her first career start Friday as the Central Michigan women’s soccer team tied the Detroit-Mercy 0-0 at Titan Stadium.

The Livonia native faced only two shots in the first half and was relieved in the second half by senior Shay Mannino. Both team’s defense dominated the game, as CMU (3-2-1) could only muster two shots in the first half and eight for the game.

“I’ve been hoping it was coming soon,” Turner said about starting her first collegiate game. “It was really exciting. I was pumped and ready to play.”

CMU head coach Tom Anagnost said Turner earned the start with her performance in practice, and is happy with her effort.

What is he is not happy about, however, is his team’s offensive performance.

“I’m disappointed in the result. You have to give credit to Detroit,” Anagnost said. “We didn’t create enough offensively. I’m disappointed in the composure and maturity level, and the tactical understanding, of our kids out there.”

Anagnost said he thinks the team needs to be tougher, especially on the offensive end. CMU has scored just five goals in six games so far this season.

“Players make plays and right now we don’t have enough players that are making plays for us to win games,” he said.

Junior defender Liesel Toth anchored the back line that notched its fourth shutout of the season. Toth, who played left back for the first time this season, was the only player for the Chippewas to play all 110 minutes of the game.

Each team played very physical in a game that featured 31 fouls and a yellow card given to both teams.

Toth said she expected Detroit to play a tough brand of soccer, and said the defense was up to the challenge.

“We knew coming in that it was going to be a physical game and for the most part we stood our ground,” she said. “We knocked some of them down and they knocked some of us down but we knew what to expect.”

Toth also gave CMU its best scoring chance in the second half, firing a shot from outside the 18-yard box that was stopped by UDM goalkeeper Nora Abolins. The Chippewas’ best chance in the first half came in the 37th minute when junior forward Chelsi Abbot stole the ball at midfield and had a one-on-one breakaway against Abolins.

Anagnost said the coaching staff needs to do a better job of getting his team ready to play, especially Sunday when they travel to Bloomington, Ind., to play Indiana, a team that beat them 1-0 last season.

“I think we need to be more aggressive,” he said. “Our kids have to do a better job responding and be the aggressors out there.”

Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. Sunday against the Hoosiers.