Soccer team seniors are all-time winningest class at CMU

For the Central Michigan women’s soccer team, Sunday’s senior day was extra special.

Bethany Allport, Chelsi Abbott, Claire Horton and Liesel Toth are CMU’s all-time winningest class. The foursome has posted a 58-16-10 record during their time in Mt. Pleasant. They surpassed the 2010 class on Oct. 7.

“Their contributions to this program have been massive,” head coach Neil Stafford said. “They’re quality because they have so many different attributes that make them successful.”

As sophomores, the four were a part of CMU’s first-ever Mid-American Conference Championship team that lost in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Last season, they were a major part of the team’s second-straight title.

“We evaluate our players in a lot of different ways,” Stafford said. “Whether it’s their lifestyle, their technical ability, tactical ability or mentally, physically or emotionally, they all seem to have all of those things.”

Abbott has two goals this season, both of them game-winners. The first was on Sept. 4 against Louisville and then on Sept. 14 against Wisconsin.

Allport has one assist this season. It came against Pittsburgh on Sept. 9. She has to watch the rest of the season from the sideline after tearing her ACL against Northern Illinois on Oct 16.

Horton and Toth are the co-captains of the 2011 team. The two have started every game of their careers. Their streak is at 84 games.

“Claire and Liesel are very special players,” Stafford said. “They could be playing at many schools around the country and we’re fortunate to have them here at CMU.”

The game against Ball State ended the way it should have, with the Chippewas winning 1-0 and Horton scoring her first goal of the season off an assist from Toth.

“It was perfect,” Toth said. “I wouldn’t have it any other way. It was like a joint team effort. She deserves that because she brings so much to the team.”

The four seniors have one more chance to play in front of the home crowd when they host a Mid-American Conference Tournament first round game on Oct. 30. The game will be another chance to extend their streaks, but they know their time on the field is almost over.

“It hasn’t hit me yet,” Toth said. “I honestly don’t think it will hit me until were really done. Everyone wrote us senior letters and I got a little emotional. But it’s been great. I can’t imagine leaving this group of girls, they’re like my family.”