CMU soccer looks for revenge after 1-0 loss last year at Toledo

One loss.

That was it for the Central Michigan women’s soccer team had last season in Mid-American Conference play.

And that one loss came against Toledo, the team it faces at 4 p.m. today.

The Rockets feature a trio of offensive players. Senior Kristen Lynn leads the team with eight goals followed by sophomores Nicole Gyurgyik (seven goals) and Rachel MacLeod (six goals).

Toledo is the only team in the MAC with three players registering at least 15 points.

Head coach Neil Stafford knows if the Chippewas capitalize on more of their scoring chances, then the game should have a favorable outcome.

“If we score two goals on a team, it is very difficult to see a team scoring three goals on us,” Stafford said.

But CMU will encounter a stifling Toledo defense which only allowed only four goals in MAC play, posting six shutouts in eight games.

Ball State

The Cardinals are coming off a 2-0 loss to Kent State Sunday and a scoreless tie against Buffalo Oct. 14 and look to get back on track at 1 p.m. on Sunday against the Chippewas.

Freshman Jasmine Moses and junior Brigit Reder lead BSU in scoring. The two have seven and six goals respectively.

“We just need to put the teams under pressure and just play our game,” said senior defender Claire Horton.

The two games this weekend will be her last regular season games played at the CMU Soccer Complex. But it did not take away her focus from the importance of the upcoming matches.

“It means a lot because Toledo beat us last year so it’s kind of a revenge game and we want to keep our unbeaten streak at our home field,” Horton said.

Horton, along with seniors Chelsi Abbott, Bethany Allport and Liesel Toth, will be honored Sunday for senior day.

Horton and Toth have started every match in their career — a stretch of 82 games.

CMU’s unbeaten streak sits at 31 games and has not lost at home since Oct. 19, 2008 when it lost to Toledo 1-0. The Rockets lead the all-time series, 5-3-6.

CMU is 11-2-1 all-time against the Ball State.