Soccer struggles to find balance as players step into leadership roles

Offensive firepower remains absent while defense performs on an inconsistent basis as women’s soccer progresses into the Mid-American Conference  season.

Head coach Peter McGahey said it has been challenging for his team to find balance this season and that executing what is implemented will be key moving forward.

“I think there is an element where you have to start making more plays,” McGahey said. "If it’s my time to make a pass or a run, sometimes it boils down to execution. The hard part is we have to execute better. It’s nothing we don’t talk about in training, but sometimes talking about it and fixing it are two different things.”

As the season progresses, many players have begun to show signs of stepping up to fill important roles.

The offense and defense struggled to find consistency against some of the better teams in the nation, including West Virginia, Ohio State and Portland. In their last four conference games, the Chippewas have been able to have multiple players step up both offensively and defensively leading to a 2-2 record to start the conference season.

Only one game this season has seen the CMU defense allow more than two goals in a game. It’s been the offense that has struggled to take advantage of its opportunities.

After scoring only three goal in the first eight games of the season, CMU has found offensive answers with three goals in the last four games.

Junior midfielder Emily Cooksey  leads the Chippewas with 26 shots and two goals on the season.

It’s not always about the statistics, though, as many different players have found leadership roles without scoring goals or providing the assist.

Junior defender Morgan Wilcoxon has provided the Chippewas with some solid defense to being the conference season. Senior defender Estee Outcalt has also helped to lead the charge defensively, keeping the opponent at bay while giving her team a chance to win.

McGahey said although there are some problems with the team in finding a cohesive rhythm on offense and defense, it can be a challenge to solve that problem right away.