The Chippewas were optimistic with two close losses to Kent State coming in overtime.

But the Golden Flashes let their fan’s hearts rest easy with a lopsided 4-1 victory.

“The difference in the game was penalty corner execution,” said CMU coach Cristy Freese. “They lift the ball to the far post, just out of (Anastasia Netto’s) reach.”

Julianna Makrinos snatched the first lead in the fifth minute for CMU.

“We were actually really excited because we scored the first goal and we knew that we started the game off strong,” Makrinos said. “It was pretty disappointing that we did not get a goal soon after.”

Kent State followed by tallying four unanswered goals, including three in a five-minute span in the second half.

Round one

Missouri State and the Chippewas were going in opposite directions entering Thursday’s first round matchup.

CMU had dropped its previous three games while the Bears won their last four.

But they seemed to meet paths when it was scoreless at halftime. The Chippewas sprung back into a positive direction thereafter.

CMU junior Erin Dye began and ended the second half with goals.

Both were a result of a play that the Chippewas worked on in their last two practices.

“Cayleigh (Immelman) passes the ball a little lower into the circle and Erin one-times it in and it worked to perfection both times,” Freese said.

Dye’s last goal widened the margin to two after Immelman and Bears forward Casey Bayliss traded scores, giving the Chippewas a 2-1 lead.

“It was a little scary there, so we knew we needed to get insurance goals,” Dye said. “We definitely took control of the ball, tried to get them on our end and get some more opportunities that we could finish on.”

Recapping the season
Chippewas floor leader Paulina Lee ended her senior season with 10 assists. No CMU player had surpassed nine in the previous two seasons.

“Last year after the season, one area that we wanted Paulina to improve in was her vision to see the open player and make the pass,” Freese said. “I think she’s improved on both of them. You got to improve on the skill to make the pass and the vision to see it”

Immelman won MAC Freshman of the Year and All-MAC first team as a result of the 33 points she contributed this season. Simone Lazar was also a MAC first-team member. Lee, Dye and Netto were second team All-MAC.

Head coach Cristy Freese won’t let it happen.

The team travels to Durham, N.C. this weekend to face Appalachian State at 11 a.m. on Saturday and No. 5 Duke at 1 p.m. Sunday.

The distance of 828 miles is CMU’s farthest travel, but Freese is not letting the team lose focus on the upcoming games.

“We only have four more games before the Mid-American Conference Tournament, so every game is very important,” Freese said. “I feel confident that the team is prepared and traveling shouldn’t factor in our performance.”

The Chippewas are coming of last weekend’s sweep and have confidence after moving back into second in the MAC standings with a 7-7 record.

“I really don’t pay attention to our record and wins and losses,” Freese said. “I focus on one game at a time. The past is the past and I’m not going to waste my time thinking what could have been.”

This week Freese held a closed practice Tuesday to help the team prepare for a strong push into the last stage of the 2011 season. The team has continued its focus on improving defensively and playing with intensity in the beginning of games.

“We are getting better, but we still have areas where we can improve,” Freese said. “We have to be on our A game in every game because that’s what it’s going to take this team to win.”

The offense will continue to count on the leadership of senior captain Paulina Lee, the aggressiveness of junior Erin Dye and the execution of freshman Cayleigh Immelman.

Appalachian State

The Mountaineers carry a (1-13) record. One of the losses came from North Carolina in a 12-0 loss. They come into Saturday’s game on a seven-game losing streak.

The No. 5 Bluedevils are (7-4) and defeated No. 1 Old Dominion last Sunday.

“Duke is a good team and we are going to have to play one hundred percent each half,” Lee said. “Their win over Old Dominion was impressive, but we can compete and win against the elite teams.”

The Bluedevils defense has allowed 19 goals and their offense is lead by sophomore Emmie Le Merchand, who has 12 goals and 30 points.

Lee was awarded the State Farm Scholar-Athlete of the Week after her one goal, two assist performance last weekend. This was the second time Lee earned the award this season.

“We have to really make sure we stay positive as we move forward,” CMU head coach Cristy Freese said. “We know from watching the tape against Kent (State) that there were a couple goals out there.”

The team is embracing its coach’s message.

“The second you let a game that you’ve already done defeat you, you’re letting them defeat you twice,” CMU midfielder Paulina Lee said.

The Chippewas could separate themselves from the bottom of the pack by beating Miami and Ball State on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.

CMU, Miami (OH) and Ball State share third place in the standings with a 3-3 conference record. Bottom feeder Missouri State and perennial powers Ohio and Kent State seem to have etched their place in the standings as the conference season approaches its finish.

The Chippewas routed the Cardinals 5-1 in their first matchup, but Ball State has won two of its last three games.

Miami has been more sporadic. It beat Kent State on the road, only losing to Ball State twice.

CMU players Brooke Sihota and Lee play in their last two games at the CMU Field Hockey Complex this weekend.

“I think it will be emotional for us,” Lee said. “To think, this is our last home weekend and last time we’ll be warming up on our home field, in our locker room, our music… I mean, it’s tough.”

Freese described the two seniors as great leaders.

“A lot of times when you get to your senior year, sometimes I think kids have already peaked and they don’t work to get any better and Paulina is just someone who is getting better and better,” Freese said.

She also said her decision to place Sihota back on defense has flourished. That based off the Chippewas No. 2 ranking in points allowed in the MAC.

The two captains will be introduced at the beginning of the game, preceeding that, the players will meet with family members for congratulatory embraces.

“Both my parents and sister have been there for me for everything,” Lee said. “My sister is the main reason I started playing field hockey. I kind of followed her in her footsteps and of course I have to give it out to my parents, dedicating themselves to coming out to see my games in any kind of weather.”

Lee said that the last two home games of her career will be meaningful.

“This one is a little more heartfelt because it is mine and Brooke’s last weekend at home ever at Central Michigan,” Lee said. “We love having our family up. We love having our friends up or people who just pass by and wonder what field hockey is, so any kind of fan support we get always boost our spirits.”

CMU (5-5, 3-1 Mid-American Conference) plays at 2 p.m. against Ohio and 1 p.m. on Saturday against Kent State at the CMU Field Hockey Complex.

“This is going to be a big test for this team and I’m excited for the challenge,” head coach Cristy Freese said. “What ever happened last weekend proves nothing for this weekend‘s games against two strong teams.”

The Chippewas are 3-1 in the last four games; all of which were against MAC opponents. The confidence of the team is high and everyone on the team expects to continue its high level of performance.

Especially sophomore forward Bailey McKeon after scoring four goals in the past two games. McKeon received the MAC Offensive Player of the Week award.

“When I’m on the field, scoring is not my main focus,” McKeon said. “The team has momentum going into a weekend where we really have to pull out two wins.”

One noticeable absence from Wednesday’s practice was leading scorer freshman Cayleigh Immelman. She is expected to be back to practice and ready for Friday’s game.

“I know she is going to be ready for this weekend, but if she’s not, I have no problem switching in players to fill her roll,” Freese said. “Our offense has a lot of shooters and I’m confident we will score.”

The man focus for this weekend is how the defense will react against two high scoring offenses.

Ohio (10-2, 3-0 MAC) is the only team ahead of CMU in the MAC standings.

Its 46 goals this season is 19 more than CMU. The Ohio offense is made up of four of the top eight scorers in the MAC, including junior Cathryn Altdoerffer, who has 10 goals. CMU and Ohio are the only two teams in the MAC who have a positive goals for/against ratio.

“We really have to be disciplined on defense against Ohio,” Freese said. “Good teams like these are going to challenge you and put a lot of pressure on the defense.”

Kent State

The Golden Flashes (4-8, 2-1 MAC) is lead by senior forward Debbie Bell. Bell has scored 12 goals in as many games and leads the conference. She is the all-time scoring leader in Kent State history with 88 goals.

“We are not going into this weekend overconfident because we know we need to play 100 percent,” senior captain Paulina Lee said. “I have high expectations for this team and if we work hard and play consistent I believe we can beat anyone.”

The Central Michigan field hockey head coach captured her 200th career win at CMU when the Chippewas dominated Missouri State University 4-0 on Saturday at the Central Michigan Field Hockey Complex. An impressive feat for any coach, but don’t tell her that.

“I’m glad that its finally over and done with,” Freese said. “Its something nice that I can look at when I retire, but right now I have to focus on this season, on this team.”

Freese celebrated her monumental victory, but not by going out and partying with friends or family, but by game planning for the next game and calling it a night at 9 pm.

The only noticeable celebration was when the whole team made a 200 symbol across the field with their bodies.

The 200-win mark is nothing more then a distraction from the team and their goals for this season according to Freese. Saturday’s win was the fourth win of the season, not the 200th of her career.

“This team has bigger goals than personal records right now,” Freese said. “We are 3-1 in MAC play and that’s pretty exciting.”

Freese’s attitude of focus and competition has been contagious and has spread throughout the entire team.

“Freese always prepares the team and puts us in the best position to win,” senior captain Paulina Lee said. “She was one of the decisive factors that made me want play at CMU and I could never ask anything more from a head coach.”

“Its nice that we could win it for her this weekend and get the 200th win off of everyone’s mind,” freshman forward Cayleigh Immelman said. “Sometimes people don’t get what they deserve, but today Cristy earned every moment of this.”

Freese is already looking ahead for the next game. Her coaching style does not let the past interfere with what needs to be done on the field.

“The team cannot look back and wonder what could have happened,” Freese said. “Today’s game is what matters: the next game is what matters.

Freese has a lot left in the tank for the future, despite coaching Division I for 25 years. Whenever asked about the 200 wins, she always responds in the same fashion.

“Talk to me at 250 or 300 wins,” Freese said. “I want to be at 250 in five or six years and I want to continue to keep this team performing at a high level of play.”

The 200 wins are nice, but senior Brooke Sihota believes Freese wants the Mid-American Conference championship more.

“Deep down we’re all excited for her, but she is focused on a MAC Championship this year,” Sihota said. “If we win that for her, we will all have a lot more to celebrate.”

A young 26-year-old graduate from Ohio State University stepped onto the Central Michigan University campus looking to make a name for herself.

After two seasons of being an assistant coach at at James Madison University and a one-year head coaching stints at Davis and Elkins University, Cristy Freese came to CMU ready to build on and improve an already successful field hockey program.

Today she sits just one win away from earning her 200th field hockey victory at CMU. Freese began her field hockey career playing for the Buckeyes during the mid-70s.

“The reason why I decided to apply and eventually took the head coaching position at CMU was because of their high quality play on the field,” Freese said. “I played against CMU as a player and I don’t think I would have ever came to Mt. Pleasant if I did not compete against the Chippewas.”

Freese’s first head coaching job in 1985 only lasted a year after leaving Davis and Elkins University to join CMU. At this time, Freese got some career advice from someone very close, her mother.

“After I left my first coaching job after just one year, my mother told me that I couldn’t jump from team to team every year if I wanted to be successful,” Freese said. “I never would have expected to be still coaching here 25 years later, but I know that coaching here is the best decision I have made in my career.”

Freese lead CMU to a 10-7 record in her first season.

Freese has compiled a record of 192-285-6 in her 25 years as head coach. She has won the Mid-American Conference Coach of the Year Award three times and has lead the Chippewas to two Mid-American Conference Tournament titles in 1990 and 2005 and one regular season championship in 2002.

She has also coached CMU to five MAC Conference Championship games and six semifinals.

Freese is already the all-time winningest coach at CMU and her squads have won up to 12 games in one season.

Most people measure coaches only by win percentage, but Freese knows that it’s so much more than that.

“My philosophy as a coach is to make my players better performers on and off the field,” Freese said. “I learned early in my career that sports can teach people to be a quality person in life and I want all my players to be great at everything they do.”

The Chippewas have had 46 players have earned NFHCA National academic squad honors over the past four years and 20 players have been placed on the Academic All-MAC team since 2001, under the guidance of Freese.

“Cristy has been a great coach and pushed us on and off the field,” senior captain Paulina Lee said. “We are all very excited for her to win her 200th victory and the team will definitely get it for her this weekend.”

Freese is always focused on getting the team prepared, but also makes sure to take time for her players.

“She is one of the reasons why I chose to play at CMU,” Lee said. “She is so welcoming and takes care of every member of the team and has made my experience being a Chippewa that much better.”

The 200th win mark is nice to Freese, but the team has bigger goals to focus on.

Freese will continue to coach at CMU and has no intention of coaching anywhere else for the rest of her career. Although 25 seasons might seem like a long time, she has no intention on retiring from coaching anytime soon.

“I love it here and I will finish coaching in Mt. Pleasant,” Freese said. “I think it took too long for me to reach 200 wins and I’m hoping to get the next 50 within the next four to six years; I want to get to 300 wins at CMU.”

“The best part about Brooke and I being captains together is I think we definitely balance out each others leadership styles because are personalities balance each other out,” Lee said.

Sihota said she is easy going, while Lee is organized.

“If everyone knew us personally, they would know that holy moly, Paulina and Brooke are so completely opposite, but we get along so well,” Sihota said.

Sihota and Lee seem to have an understanding of their role as captain.

“As are coach says, ‘What’s the pulse of your team?” Lee said. “Are they happy, are they unhappy and how to monitor that and make sure everyone’s on the same page.”

Although Sihota and Lee will be leading a young team, CMU head coach Cristy Freese has given them responsibilities but makes sure not ask too much of them.

“I think that they don’t have to carry the whole burden in their play,” Freese said. “The communication and getting our team settled down or focused on the game plan is that’s something they do really well.”

Sihota and Lee add that while the team is young, team chemistry has grown from spring play and summer camps.

“We worked hard and well with our coaches, so we tightened as a team, so coming back it felt like everyone was an experienced player,” Lee said.

Freese noted the importance of them having a good relationship with the coaches.

“That’s important too because they’re not just the players captains, they’re the coaches captains too, so they have to be able to communicate with me as well as the team,” Freese said.

Much like their personalities, Sihota and Lee bring different things to the field.

“Brooke’s greatest thing that she brings is just knowledge of the game and the ability to read the game,” Freese said. “Paulina brings something different to the field. I think she’s such an athlete; she’s got great speed and I feel like now as a senior, she just has a real good sense of the game plan.”

One facet of the game fans will find both players in is during the penalty corner.

Sihota is the inserter and Lee is the stick-stop. They have been key contributors in the penalty corner for much of their careers.

“Last year actually, there was a point where both of them were injured and I really thought that hurt us not only on their overall game, but the fact that it just took two people out of our penalty corner unit,” Freese said.

A prelude to their future success is their previous accolades.

Sihota was a second team all-MAC selection, last season, while Lee earned the Bill Boyden Leadership Award along with holding a 3.85 GPA.

However, a MAC championship is the main objective they are striving for this season.

“To be honest, they would rather be remembered as bringing our team to a championship in their senior year,” Freese said.

Sihota and Lee agree with that assessment.

“You want to leave a legacy right? We haven’t won a MAC championship since 2005 and I think coming out as seniors and captains, both Brooke and I want to leave that legacy, that in 2011 we got our MAC championship,” Lee said.

This weekend it looks to continue that trend.

The Chippewas play at 2 p.m. Friday against the University of Michigan and then at 10 a.m. on Saturday against the University of Bucknell.

Michigan is ranked 14th in the nation and will be one of the best teams CMU faces yet this season.

The Wolverines have won four of five games played between the two schools in the past five seasons.

“Michigan is always a good team to play,” head coach Cristy Freese said. “We go into every game thinking we can win. The players are going to be playing under a lot more pressure and I’m interested to see how we react to more speed and a better opponent.”

The Wolverines (2-2) have played tough competition in their two losses with one coming against No. 1 Maryland and another against No. 2 North Carolina.

Bucknell

Bucknell has not had much luck on the field this season. The Bisons started 0-3, yet to score a single goal.

This week during practice CMU continued to work on field execution, focusing in on passing up the field and converting more shots and corners.

“The team has been a little sluggish at practice this week,” Freese said. “ Wednesday practices are tough with some players’ class schedules lapping over practice time, but I expect the team to come out ready and focused for this weekend.”

Opening the season with two wins gives CMU confidence moving forward.

“We’ve stepped it up so far this year and we are playing with a more positive outlook,” senior Midfielder Paulina Lee said. “The starters and the bench players know their roles on the team and we are looking forward to prove something this weekend.”

This week sophomore Julianna Makrinos won the State Farm Scholar-Athlete of the week. Makrinos is the first CMU field hockey player to win the award.

The Venetia, Pa. native scored three times in two games while also adding two assists, duplicating her totals for her entire freshman year.

“Its really nice that my hard work in school and on the field is recognized,” Makrinos said. “I couldn’t do it without my teammates; they pass me the ball and I just tip it in.”

The pressure to succeed on the field has become almost as important, if not more so, than what the athletes do off the field.

For field hockey midfielder Paulina Lee, her list of off-field activities is inconceivable. One wouldn’t believe she had time for her sport based on her resume.

“If you ever saw her resume, you would be impressed,” said Erin Dye, a teammate and fellow marketing major. “She is a large reason why other business majors and I have gotten more involved.”

That resume includes: a plethora of jobs for Alpha Kappa Psi, campus ambassador for Procter & Gamble for safe drinking water for children water, Boyne Resorts receptionist, junior accountant executive for Archer Inc., student marketing coordinator and assistant Chippewas Kids Club coordinator, and internship at Procter & Gamble, vice president of NCAA Student-Athletic Advisory Committee.

But that’s just outside of what she does when field hockey season comes around.

She won placement on the National Field Hockey Coaches’ Association Division I academic squad, represented CMU at the inaugural NCAA Career in Sports Forum, was a Jane McNamara Scholar-Athlete recipient, also was a Chi Alpha Sigma (National College Athlete Society) 2011 inductee, was named a Dick Enberg Schloar-Athlete of the Year and 2011 Bill Boyden Leadership Award winner.

Not to mention she currently has a GPA ranging between 3.85-4.0.

Paulina’s parents, Betty and Paul Lee, emigrated from China to the U.S. to study in the states.

Her father Paul came from Hong Kong, attended Cornell for his undergraduate and attended the University of Rochester for his graduate studies, obtaining a PhD, as well as two masters degrees. He has also worked for Kodak Co. and Kodak-ITT Geospatial Systems.

Her mother Betty came from Macau and attended Nazareth College of Rochester during her undergraduate degree, and attended the Rochester Institute of Technology for her graduate studies where she received a Masters of Business Administration. She’s currently a bookkeeper at a Catholic church, but worked at Xerox Co.

Paulina also has an older sister, Christina Lee, who graduated from Cornell and works as a scientist for Johnson and Johnson, Inc.

“My parents have worked very hard to be where they are today,” Paulina Lee said. “My sister and I are also very close.”

Paulina’s work ethic both on and off the field most likely has a great deal to do with her parents ambitious approach for education, along with her high school atmosphere at Mendon High School in Pittsford, N.Y.

“In high school we were always encouraged to join a lot of things,” Lee said.

So that is what she did. Not just playing field hockey, she also played soccer and was involved in art classes, orchestra, choir, government, varsity club, French club, National Honors Society and advanced placement courses.

“There were little cliques in high school and she didn’t get into that, she actually brought them together,” said Peggy Smith-Lewis, Lee’s high school coach. “She took the leadership roles even if they weren’t appointed to her.”

Lee has appeared in 52 games, starting in 30, helping CMU advance to three Mid-American Conference semifinals since coming to CMU. Her highlights include scoring on a penalty stroke in a shootout against Ohio and having the winning assist last season against Providence.

But despite all she is involved in, she still has one true love.

“One of things I loved was the team and coaches Cristy (Freese) and Earl (Maris),” Lee said. “There were also a couple older girls who I had played on club teams with, so I had a family out there already.”

“It’s just a matter of working hard, staying enthusiastic and dealing with the ups and downs of the season,” said CMU field hockey coach Cristy Freese.

Freese pointed to inexperience as the reason for the Chippewas’ instability. At the beginning of last season, seven freshmen were on the field at one point.

“You’re not going to really have that consistent season because not only are they trying to figure out the Division I college game, but it’s about a team effort too, and they have to learn how to play with each other,” Freese said.

Over half the squad is underclassman, but nine of 11 starters are returning.

“Twelve is going to take hard work, but it’s definitely doable,” said CMU senior midfielder Paulina Lee. “Just take it game by game and work hard each and every day to reach that goal.”

Lee embraced the role of leader, but realizes she needs assistance from her counterparts.

“I’m very vocal. I try to use that on the field as well as in practice,” she said. “At the same time we are a team, so my teammates rely on me as much as I rely on them.”
Freese expects the team to be more aggressive calling the team “hungry.”

Freese has high hopes for Lee and fellow senior Brooke Sihota, along with last year’s scoring leader Erin Dye, as well as sophomore Simone Lazar and senior goalkeeper Anastasia Netto.

“I think last year at this time, I wasn’t talking about that many players,” Freese said. “There were too many unknown players.”

She thinks Netto’s year of guarding the net will be beneficial to this year’s team. Last season, she was in a position battle that stretched until the third game, when she notched the first victory of her career.

“Ana comes into this year our starter and she can be practicing and preparing that way,” Freese said. “She has a whole season under her belt, so we certainly anticipate that she is going to be able to step up.”

High expectations for freshmen

Lee believes the freshmen have brought energy, insight and skill. While it is difficult to judge the success of freshmen by highlights and a box score, Freese looks for freshmen Cayleigh Immelman and Mary Alice Moore to break through the starting lineup.

An invitation to participate in the 2013 U-21 Junior World Cup is evidence of Immelmann’s success in South Africa. Before joining the team, Moore thrived as well. The New York native was a two-time all-state selection in high school.

With only two players donning the Chippewa jersey for the last time this season, successful results most likely will ensue in 2012. However, CMU must begin taking steps forward this year, after tallying its lowest win total in the past 10 seasons.

“Were trying to position our team to not only push for that conference championship this year, but win the conference in 2012 and for years to come after that,” Freese said.
The Chippewas open the regular season with a home game at 3 p.m.. Sept. 2 against Saint Louis at the CMU Field Hockey Complex.