Field hockey beats Ohio in penalty strokes
The Central Michigan women’s field hockey team earned every ounce of its first Mid-American Conference win Saturday.
Following a 2-0 loss against Kent State on Friday, CMU beat Ohio 2-1 on penalty strokes Saturday at the CMU Field Hockey Complex.
The game did not start the way the team wanted as Ohio took a 1-0 lead 2:42 into the game when Taylor Brown scored off a penalty corner. CMU responded, outshooting the Bobcats 7-4 and earning more penalty corners 5-3.
They carried the momentum into the second half, when freshman forward Bailey McKeon scored 6:37 into the second half off a penalty corner to tie the game up at 1.
After the goal, the Bobcats found another gear and had a handful of great scoring opportunities late in the second half, but could not capitalize and the game was sent into a six-on-six overtime.
In the first overtime, both teams had opportunities to win. CMU had three corners but had trouble getting shots on goal. The game was once again extended to a second overtime, where Ohio came back and outshot the Chippewas 5-2, also gaining the only penalty corner. Neither team could score, so the game would be decided in a shootout.
Both teams made their first three stroke off shots. Laine Greenawalt, Ohio’s fourth shooter, had her shot go high and miss the net. CMU shooter Simone Lazar followed up by scoring a goal, putting all the pressure on the Bobcats. Laura Mastro set up her shot and missed wide left, giving the Chippewas the win in their closest game of the season.
Midfielder Erin Dye had a team-high seven shots, five of which were on goal.
The win boosted CMU’s record to 3-7 overall and 1-1 in MAC play. Goalie Anastasia Netto stopped 10 shots in the game and stopped all three shots on goal during the shootout.
The team plays of a pair of home games next weekend at 1 p.m. Saturday against Ball State and noon Sunday against Miami, respectively, at the CMU Field Hockey Complex.
