Soccer takes down Toledo, improves MAC record to 4-1-0

The Central Michigan women’s soccer team continued its stifling defense Friday holding Toledo to four shots in a 2-0 victory at Scott Park Soccer Complex.

The Chippewas, on the other hand, took 15 shots.

Head coach Neil Stafford said he was pleased with the discipline shown by his team.

“Toledo is always tough, I don’t care if it’s been a rough year for them or not,” Stafford said. “When Central and Toledo square up, it’s a real difficult game. I’m really proud.”

With the first shot of the game, freshman forward Danielle Rotheram was able to find the back of the net in the 10th minute to give the Chippewas a 1-0 lead.

In the 23rd minute, senior defender Bailey Brandon shot for the second time in the game, scoring her first goal of the season and extending the lead to 2-0.

“I feel like I’ve been more aggressive lately, trying to get forward,” Brandon said. “Being able to actually put a goal away is a good feeling.”

The Chippewas took seven more shots before the half ended, but only allowed the Rockets one shot before halftime, taken by senior defender Natalia Gaitàn.

“I think we definitely came out strong in the first half, with an aggressive nature I think we’ve been lacking,” Brandon said. “We put goals away right away, rather than letting the team hang with us and gain confidence.”

After the half, senior defender Rachael Kravitz attempted to put her team on the board in the 62nd minute, but her shot was blocked.

Just before the shot, senior defender Katie Slaughter was issued a yellow card, the second one the team received during the game.

Freshman midfielder Josie Seebeck was issued the first yellow card of the game and season earlier in the game in the 32nd minute. Slaughter’s card was followed by a third card in the 68th minute to freshman defender Emily Basten.

Stafford said the cards were uncalled for, and he was not pleased with the officiating.

“I thought it was too bad because this person is having this much influence in the game and it’s an incredibly frustrating game to play and coach when refs are unpredictable; it puts you on edge,” Stafford said. “I had to take our captain (Slaughter) out of the game with about twenty left in the game because of it. Was it a yellow card? Absolutely not.”

As time was running out, sophomore midfielder Alexis Tice took a shot in the 89^th minute, but failed to score for Toledo, sealing the victory for CMU.

CMU is now 8-4-1 overall and 4-1-0 in the Mid-American Conference.

The Chippewas travel to DeKalb, Ill. Sunday to take on the Northern Illinois Huskies.