CMU soccer team opens MAC play on the road this weekend

• Tweet
• 

The Central Michigan women’s soccer team has experienced only one loss through non-conference.

The Chippewas finished the non-conference schedule with a 6-1-1 record, picking up victories over Louisville, Pittsburgh and Wisconsin along the way.

And while the non-conference schedule was more successful than not, conference play is what really matters to head coach Neil Stafford.

“Conference play is the most important,” Stafford said. “We’re going into games where people just passionately don’t want us to succeed.”

Akron and Ohio will have the first opportunity to try and dethrone the two-time defending Mid-American Conference champions.

“These teams are both good organizations,” Stafford said. “Both have good coaches who have had some success and they have some decent results in the non-conference. Plus we’re on the road, they will be ready to tear our heads off.”

CMU opens conference season at 7:30 p.m. today in Akron, Ohio against the Zips, before traveling 180 miles south to play Ohio University in Athens.

In the opening weekend of MAC play last season, the Chippewas beat Akron and Ohio at the CMU Soccer Complex 3-0 and 3-1 respectively.

“When we play non-conference teams, the mentality isn’t the same as the teams we will play this weekend,” Stafford said. “Conference play is more personal, there’s that intimacy, that relationship and that knowledge of each other. You don’t want to be outdone by someone in your conference.”

The Zips (3-3) are led by sophomore forward Kyarah Foushee and junior midfielder Ashley Hughes, both have two goals on the season.

Akron defeated Michigan 1-0 on Aug. 19, a team that CMU tied 1-1 on Sept. 11. The Zips are coming off a 2-0 victory over Eastern Illinois and look to win their third straight game.

Ohio (3-5) played two of the same teams as CMU in the non-conference. Like the Chippewas, it beat Pittsburgh 2-0 on Aug 21. It also lost 2-1 to Kentucky. It is coming off of a 1-0 win against Indiana State; a team CMU defeated 2-0 on Aug. 28.

The Bobcats have relied on a balanced attack so far this season with five different players scoring at least one goal. Sophomore Mattie Liston has posted three shutouts in goal.

“I have played both of these teams three times before,” senior defender Claire Horton said. “They are tough teams and we are going to have to play hard. After all, conference play is the most important part of the season.”

The Chippewas only loss in MAC play came on the road last season.

“It’s great where we’re at right now,” Stafford said. “But nobody has gotten a postseason berth because of how they play in the non-conference, this is where it matters so the pressure is a little bit greater.”