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.”

The Chippewas put the finishing touches on a perfect home season Sunday afternoon when they defeated Ball State 1-0 on senior day at the CMU Soccer Complex.

CMU finished the regular season 6-0-1 at home and only allowed one goal. Its unbeaten streak now sits at 33-straight games.

“I’m really happy with today’s win,” head Coach Neil Stafford said, “Ball State is a really good, organized program and they have some good players on their team. Any time we can get three points out of a game against a team like that, it speaks volumes about our program and our players.”

The Cardinals recorded one of their two shots on goal in the first minute of play. From there, the Chippewas controlled play.

In the 25th minute, sophomore midfielder Kaely Schlosser fired the first of several long-shot attempts by the Chippewas, but junior goalkeeper Aubrey Buehler made a diving save to her right.

Senior Co-Captain Liesel Toth nearly gave CMU the lead with five minutes to go in the first half when she fired a shot from 40 yards out that Buehler was just able to deflect over the crossbar.

CMU finally got on the board in the 74th minute after a scoreless first half when it’s other captain, Claire Horton dropped a free kick from 25 yards out behind Buehler and into the back of the net.

“It was funny because I usually take that kick,” Toth, who got the assist on the goal, said. “But Claire said she was going to take this one and there’s no arguing with that. It was perfect because she deserves that. She brings so much to the team.”

CMU outshot the Cardinals 15-to-2 and held the advantage in corner kicks 9-to-1.

Redshirt freshman Grace Labrecque and junior Stefanie Turner split the game in the Chippewa net. Labrecque saved the only two shots she faced.

Toledo

Friday the Chippewas defeated fellow Mid-American Conference contender Toledo 1-0.

Ashley Mejilla scored her team-leading fourth goal in the 76th minute off an assist from junior defender Katie Slaughter to give the Chippewas the win.

The loss was the first in conference play for the Rockets.

“Overall, I’m happy with how we played,” Stafford said. “I thought we played fantastic in the first half, especially. We applied a lot of pressure to Toledo in the first half and didn’t really allow them to get anything going.”

Turner started in goal. She had three saves en route to her fourth shutout of the season.

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.

At 4 p.m. Friday they meet again in Kalamazoo for the first time since.

“Any time you knock somebody out when a championship is on the line, its going to fuel a team,” head coach Neil Stafford said. “I’m sure they will be looking for revenge.”

The in-state showdown with the Broncos is one of two games this weekend. CMU plays Northern Illinois at 1 p.m. on Sunday in CMU’s first two games against MAC West division opponents this season.

“You always want to do well in your own division,” Stafford said.

The last four regular season meetings between the Chippewas and Broncos have all been 1-0 games, three of them being won by the Chippewas.

“Western is a good team,” senior defender Liesel Toth said. “It’s going to be fun and it’s definitely going to be a battle.”

The Broncos feature a dangerous offensive attack led by reigning MAC Offensive Player of the Year, Stephanie Skowneski. The senior has six goals and seven assists and leads the conference in points. She is joined by junior forward Anina Cicerone who is tied for second in the conference with seven goals.

“We’re just going to focus on our game plan,” Stafford said. “But you always have to pay special attention to players who are doing well, but at the same time if you get too focused on one person, someone else will get you.”

The Chippewas play Northern Illinois in Dekalb, Ill. on Sunday. NIU is led by sophomore forward Frances Boukidis who has two goals and three assists on the year. The Huskies have struggled this season and have recorded only two wins, but CMU isn’t overlooking them.

“Any team in the MAC can beat you,” Stafford said. “NIU is not an easy place to play. They have a difficult surface and they’re a capable team, so we will be ready for them. “

The Mid-American Conference foes compete against on the soccer field in Kalamazoo. The CMU/WMU rivalry has a different meaning to people who are a part of it.

“Everyone that grows up in Michigan knows the rivalry between in-state schools,” junior midfielder Bailey Brandon said. “Obviously there’s Michigan-Michigan State and then there’s Central-Western. Whenever you hear someone from either school talk about each other, there’s bad blood.”

Brandon, a Livonia native, is well aware of the significance of the rivalry, but others on the team, like freshman forward Laura Gosse, gets her first taste of the rivalry Friday.

“At the beginning of the year I was asking about specific teams in the conference,” the Ontario native said. “One of the girls on the team told me that Western has always been a tough game with dramatic endings, so I’m preparing for that.”

The last four regular season meetings have all been 1-0 games and three of them were won by the Chippewas. Friday’s game seems more significant for the home standing Broncos because of CMU’s recent success.

“This year is different because of the results of the past few years,” Western Michigan senior forward Stephanie Skowneski said. “It’s making us even more intense for this game; they’re rivals and the games have been close lately.”

The Chippewas are taking a more reserved approach, but still know the significance of the trip to Kalamazoo.

“It’s a big deal going up against Western,” senior defender Liesel Toth said. “But it’s also just another game and it’s just as important as the rest of them.”

Both teams are preparing in different ways, but one thing’s for sure: When the Chippewas and Broncos get together, regardless of the sport, it means something.

“I’m a senior so this is my last chance to play them,” Toth said. “The feelings are mutual for each other. Both teams want to win this game really bad.”

It was almost 10 days prior to 0-0 game against Akron on Friday night.

“After beating Wisconsin on the road, the break was great,” head coach Neil Stafford said. “But if we would have played horrible, we probably would have wanted to play as soon as possible.”

Fortunately for the Chippewas, they were able to come away with a victory in that game and they have used the break to prepare for the season in more ways than one.

“We worked them really hard Sunday, Monday and Tuesday,” Stafford said. “I think the break was good for us both mentally and physically. We gave them a couple days off to get them get focused on schoolwork and have a little self-time. I think this will help them in the long run in terms of soccer.”

For CMU, the break couldn’t have come at a better time. The Chippewas are coming off of back-to-back Big Ten games against Michigan, which went two overtimes, and Wisconsin.

“We needed time to recover from some tough games we have had over the past couple days,” senior defender Claire Horton said.

Through eight games this season, the Chippewas have some players who have logged some heavy minutes, partly because they have played in three games that have gone to overtime.

Leading the way is Horton and fellow senior defender Liesel Toth. Both have started every game and played 712 and 731 minutes respectively up to the break.

In addition to that, junior Bailey Brandon has played 636 minutes, senior Chelsi Abbott 587 minutes and junior Katie Slaughter 581 minutes.

The break comes in between the non-conference and conference schedules, something CMU has done the past few seasons under former head coach Tom Anagnost.

“That was something that Tom did a good job with,” Stafford said. “He was always talking about having a good break in between the schedules. There is a value to it, especially if you’re dealing with a couple of injuries.”

In addition to resting up, the Chippewas used the break to mentally prepare for the conference season.

“We have just been really talking about how tough the conference is going to be,” Stafford said. “I don’t think it gets easier. No one wants to see CMU win a third title. The mental preparation we have been doing hopefully will help us in the long run.”

The Chippewas know they will need to have their “A-game” each and every time they play.

“When you get into an environment where you feel like people are gunning for you, it can bring teams closer together,” Stafford said. “When you face adversity, those are the opportunities that bring us tighter together. There will be a ton of adversity coming our way.”

The Central Michigan women’s soccer team opened up conference play this weekend looking to be the first team to do so.

CMU responded with a 3-0 victory on Sunday at Ohio University after playing to a 0-0 draw Friday night against Akron.

“I just felt like we connected a lot more today,” said CMU head coach Neil Stafford. “I think we looked a little bit more lively than we did on Friday.”

The Chippewas (7-1-2, 1-0-1 MAC) opened the scoring 24:33 into the game when sophomore Jennifer Gassman deflected senior Liesel Toth’s free kick into the back of the net.

Four minutes into the second half, junior Autumn Hawkins scored her third goal of the season to give CMU a 2-0 lead. Hawkins tapped the ball in the bottom right corner after a cross from sophomore Ashley Mejilla.

“I thought her and Ashley starting together today gave us a little bit more depth in the midfield,” Stafford said.

Redshirt freshman goalkeeper Grace Labrecque entered the game in the second half and made a key save early to keep the lead at a two-goal margin. Ohio midfielder Kelsey Pichel fired a shot from 30 yards out that Labrecque tipped over the bar.

Both CMU goalkeepers have played a vital role in the team’s success so far.

Labrecque and junior Stefanie Turner combined for the team’s fifth shutout of the season.

“They are doing awesome and make a huge impact,” said freshman Morgan Wilcoxon. “I think it’s great we can put Grace in and we can depend on her just as much as Turner.”

CMU added to its lead in the 75th minute as Wilcoxon scored her first career goal. She banged home the rebound after Hawkins hit a header off the post.

The Chippewas held the advantage in shots (17-15), and corner kicks (4-3).

On Friday, the Chippewas could not get their offense rolling, as they played Akron to a 0-0 draw.

“I just thought we were a little slow and lethargic in certain areas,” said head coach Neil Stafford. “I didn’t think we applied our game.”

CMU has played four overtime games this season, posting a 1-1-2 record.

It made a bid to score late after taking a corner kick during the last minute of the second overtime period, but could not find the back of the net.

Turner made three saves in the game, posting her second shutout of the season.

It would take a complete team effort to have success in those games.

Any questions of whether or not it can handle the competition were answered Wednesday as the Chippewas concluded non-conference play with a 2-1 road victory against Wisconsin.

“I think we were good and lucky tonight,” said head coach Neil Stafford. “And when we get both of those things, sometimes you get a win and I am really pleased for the women because I think they endured a lot through this non-conference schedule.”

The winning goal came off the foot of senior forward Chelsi Abbott. She lobbed a shot over Wisconsin goalkeeper Michele Dalton. Senior defender Liesel Toth recorded an assist on the goal for her third point of the night.

The Chippewas (6-1-1) jumped out to an early lead Toth scored her first goal of the season 7:59 into the game. She fired a shot past Dalton from 30 yards out.

“I think it was really important,” said senior forward Chelsi Abbott. “We kind of took the momentum for the first part of the game.”

The Badgers responded by picking up their attack as they began rifling shots at junior CMU goalkeeper Stefanie Turner. She withstood the attack, keeping Wisconsin scoreless in the first half.

“She kept us in the game,” Stafford said. “If it wouldn’t have been for Stefanie tonight then I think we would have been down.”

The Badgers tied the score in the 63rd minute when forward Laurie Nosbusch scored her third of the season, taking a low shot from six yards out that found the back of the net.

Both of Abbott’s goals this season have been game-winners.

“I guess I’m just at the right place at the right time a lot of the time,” Abbott said. “So a lot of it has to do with the work of the players around me. I think they are all working really hard so I can do my job.”

The Chippewas were able to rely on their seniors as they proved to be a vital part of the victory.

“I think they led by example today,” Stafford said. “They showed their quality and they showed what they are capable of doing.”

The Badgers outshot CMU 16-9.

The Chippewas have nine days off before they begin conference play on Sept. 23 at Akron.

“I think we are happy that we have a break now,” Stafford said. We can sort of regroup, lick our wounds and focus on what we didn’t do well tonight.”

An athlete’s ability to perform to a degree of excellence every day is no easy task and it takes a rare type of individual to accomplish it.

In football, Brett Favre started 297 consecutive games from 1992-2010. In baseball, Cal Ripkin Jr. played in 2,632 consecutive games and earned the nickname “Iron Man” before finally taking a day off.

At Central Michigan University there are two “Iron Men”, or in this case “Iron Women.”

Senior defenders Liesel Toth and Claire Horton have started every match of their careers since they began playing in Mt. Pleasant in 2008.
Over the weekend they extended their consecutive games started streak to 68.

“Liesel and Claire have been fortunate enough to have been on the field every single day,” head coach Neil Stafford said. “I think you really have to respect those types of people, the ones who are on the field day in and day out getting the job done.”

For the first three years of their careers, that’s exactly what they have done. Since the two began at CMU, the team has yielded a goal against average of just 0.62 and posted 42 shutouts.

If the Chippewas are going to do anything in 2011 it will be the two defenders that lead them.

Horton and Toth have always been standout players, but now as seniors, they take on more responsibilities than ever before.

“Being seniors it’s our turn to step up and lead the team,” Horton said “People look up to us, so we always have to be setting a good example. This is probably our most important role this season.”

The team needs to replace three captains after losing Shay Mannino, Jenna Hill, and Valerie Prause to graduation.

“Our captains last year were all great leaders,” Toth said. “There’s a lot were trying to emulate either by example or by communication. Their leadership last season helped make us successful, so were just trying to fill those shoes.”

If they continue what they have been doing, they should have no problem doing that whatsoever.

Both Toth and Horton are committed to doing what it takes for the good of the team, which includes helping some of the younger girls on the team.

“I always encourage the younger girls to ask questions if they have them,” Toth said. “They shouldn’t ever assume anything, because that can get you into trouble. We’re here to help them so I really want them to know that they shouldn’t bottle things up.”

Despite the added responsibility, Horton and Toth will not be alone this season.

Joining them on defense is 2009 Mid-American Conference Freshman of the Year Bailey Brandon and junior Katie Slaughter who started all 22 matches last season.

Senior Bethany Allport , sophomore Estee Outcalt and freshman Morgan Wilcoxon will also see time on defense.

“No one in the back line wants to get beat and if we do get beat, we work our tails off to get back,” Toth said. “We have constant communication and I think we have a team mentality that were in this together and we are going to get this done.”

Both seniors don’t want to look too far ahead, but ultimately the goal of the team is to continue the success that they had the last couple seasons and make another NCAA Tournament — both know that this is their last go around.

“The question I ask myself is ‘What am I going to leave behind?’” Toth said. “I want to give everything I have because this is it. I don’t want to have any regrets. I’m not going to have another college chance after this so I want to make the most out of every opportunity.”

The Chippewas posted a record of 45-14-7 over those three years; they are back-to-back Mid-American Conference champions and have made it to the NCAA tournament the past two seasons. They have won 25 straight games at the CMU Soccer Complex and have two players, seniors Liesel Toth and Claire Horton, who have started 68 straight matches.

So what more can a team that has already experienced so much success do? Quite simply, the answer is to take the next step.

In 2009 head coach Tom Anagnost led the team to a 17-4-3 record, defeating Miami University 1-0 in the MAC Tournament championship game to advance to the NCAA tournament for the first time in program history.

Once there, the Chippewas defeated the No. 24 Purdue Boilermakers 2-0, before losing to eventual national semifinalist No. 5 Notre Dame 6-1.

The next season, with expectations again high, the team finished the regular season 16-5-1 and lost only one game in the conference season.

It won the MAC Tournament again, defeating Western Michigan 3-1, once again advancing to the NCAA Tournament where it lost a hard fought match against No. 12 Marquette 1-0.

In 2011, anything but a return trip to the NCAA Tournament would be a disappointment. CMU returns virtually its entire lineup from 2010, including nine of its top ten leading scorers.

Furthermore, a large part of those players return after having two years of experience playing in big games, both in the MAC and NCAA Tournament.

The Chippewas established themselves at the top of the MAC and now they need to show that they can make an impact on the national level.

This season they have plenty of chances to do just that.

Friday, the Chippewas travel to Kentucky and on Sunday to Louisville. Then they host Pittsburgh on Sept. 9 and travel to Michigan and Wisconsin on Sept. 11 and 14, both made the NCAA Tournament last season.

CMU should compete and even win some of these matches — proving that it can compete with the nation’s best, preparing itself for teams it could see in the tournament.

Schools like the University of Portland and Santa Clara University have shown in the last couple of seasons that schools from smaller conferences can make a difference. If CMU ever wants to be in the ranks of these schools, it must go above and beyond expectations this season.

In no way am I discrediting what the team and its coaches have accomplished over the past few years.

They should be applauded by students, fans and the athletic community alike. But the goal of any program should be to grow and eventually win a national championship.

CMU probably isn’t going to win a national championship this season or for many seasons to come, but this team has earned the right to be expected to perform. And it’s not unrealistic to say that winning two or three games in the NCAA Tournament is an obtainable goal.