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.”

New CMU head soccer coach Neil Stafford was an assistant under former head coach Tom Anagnost before he took the same job at the University of Miami in January.

Anagnost must adjust to a different program, but Stafford avoids that hassle. He knows his players and a majority of his opponent’s, and he’s already in the same environment.

“The relationship with the players is the same and so are the expectations,” Stafford said. “There was a plus with the continuity with me taking over. ”

The expectations are high for the soccer program after Anagnost led the Chippewas to back-to-back Mid-American Conference Championships and two consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances.

Having Stafford here is a plus for both him and the program, as he spent valuable time learning from the coach who had the most success with the CMU program.

“I was fortunate to see how hard Tom worked in certain areas,” Stafford said. “That experience with Tom has made me a better coach and it prepared me to be better.”

The experience can certainly be beneficial, but this is the Stafford era. Anagnost is off into the sunset. It won’t all be the same.

One of the areas Stafford has emphasized since taking over is showing trust in his players. He’s allowed his team to play through more than what it’s used to, saying the Chippewas looked almost robotic at times last season.

“I want to let them just play and figure things out for themselves because I think we were a little bit regimented before,” he said. “We almost looked too computer-like or too programed, but we were certainly disciplined before and we want to keep that discipline up again.”

Senior midfielder Claire Horton played under Anagnost for her first three seasons. It can be difficult for upperclassmen to adjust with a new coaching change because they are so far along in their career, but Horton said the transition has be quite easy for her.

“I’m surprised since I had Tom for three years,” she said of the smooth transition. “But I think Neil’s doing a great job with us and I think we’ll continue to get better with him as the coach.”

Horton, defender Liesel Toth and forward Chelsi Abbott are the only three seniors on a team that lost three seniors following last season. All three juniors last season were vocal, but Horton said their leadership roles will have to increase with the departure of Shay Mannino, Valerie Prause and Jenna Hill.

“We definitely have to step it up a lot more this year,” she said. “Our three seniors were very vocal last year, especially Jenna in the midfield. We really need to step it up.”

Neil Stafford

Central Michigan University named Neil Stafford the program’s head coach Monday during a news conference at the CMU Events Center.

Stafford signed a 3-year deal that will pay him $60,000 per year plus bonuses based on performance.

Stafford said he was informed of the decision at 8:30 a.m. Friday by CMU Athletics Director Dave Heeke and Senior Associate Athletics Director Marcy Weston.

“Dave and Marcy asked me to reflect on what my visions were for the program,” Stafford said. “We had an hour and a half meeting one day that I thought went really well.”

His vision? To keep a program that has won back-to-back Mid-American Conference championships and made a pair of NCAA tournament appearances on track.

“Not too much is going to change. If it ‘aint broke, don’t try to fix it.”

Stafford was named interim head coach on Dec. 29 after Tom Anagnost resigned from CMU to accept the vacant coaching position at the University of Miami.

In a telephone interview with Central Michigan Life on Dec. 30, Stafford expressed interest in becoming the permanent head coach – going as far as to say he’d “move on” if he wasn’t chosen for the job.

“Neil’s head coaching experience, along with his knowledge and dedication to this program, made this an easy decision,” said Director of Athletics Dave Heeke. “Continuity and consistency are two very important factors we look for in building a program that can sustain its success. We like to promote from within at CMU whenever the opportunity presents itself. Over the last two years, Neil has played a significant role in how high our soccer program has ascended, and he has all the qualifications we were looking for in a head coach.”

Stafford served as Anagnost’s primary assistant for the past two seasons, during which the Chippewas went a combined 33-9-4.

Before coming to CMU, he was head coach of Assumption College in Worchester, Mass., going 72-61-5.

Stafford said he plans on retaining assistant coach Stephanie Webb, while a national search began on Friday for a second assistant.

“I didn’t realize how important great chemistry between the coaching staff was until I really got here,” Stafford said. “I felt like Tom and I really complemented each other well, and I will miss that a lot. I don’t think it’ll be that same chemistry, probably different, but if we can complement each other, we’re in good standing.”

The team met with their new head coach for the first time Monday. Stafford is the third head coach to guide the program in the last three years.

Follow Aaron McMann on Twitter: @AaronMcMann. For breaking CMU sports news and updates, follow @CMLifeSports.

Athletics Director Dave Heeke has been given the task to replace head coach Tom Anagnost, who resigned on Dec. 29 and took the vacant job at the University of Miami.

While Heeke has not formally set a timetable to name a replacement, he said he would like a new head coach in place by the time the February signing period arrives.

“With the success we’ve had within the program and national attention, I would expect him to be a candidate at different places,” Heeke said of Anagnost’s decision to leave. “We’re real happy for him, it’s a great opportunity to coach in what is arguably the best women’s soccer league. We’re disappointed to lose him.”

Players were informed the night before in an e-mail Anagnost sent to the team. Assistant coach Neil Stafford was named interim head coach, taking over the day-to-day duties of the program, until a decision is made on a permanent coach.

In a telephone interview with Central Michigan Life on Dec. 30, Stafford said he was interested in taking over the job on a permanent basis.

“I think Tom knows I want to be a head coach again,” Stafford said when asked about following Anagnost to Miami. “We talked about the possibilities of what was my best option to accomplish my goals. If I’m lucky enough to get this opportunity, fantastic. If not, I’ll move on.”

Stafford was named assistant coach at CMU prior to the 2009 season in which the Chippewas finished 17-4-3 and won their first Mid-American Conference championship.

He spent one season as associate head coach at Assumption College in Worchester, Mass., while serving as head coach from 2001-2008, amassing a 72-61-5 record.

Heeke confirmed that Stafford is in the running to earn the permanent job.

“Neil has publicly stated he’s interested in the job and he is definitely a qualified candidate,” Heeke said.

‘Immeasurable’ contributions

During his time as head coach, Anagnost guided CMU to a 40-12-7 overall record over three seasons. The Chippewas won back-to-back MAC championships and made two NCAA tournament appearances, upsetting No. 24 Purdue in the school’s first postseason win in 2009.

During his time at the helm, the team continued to excel in the classroom, maintaining the nation’s top team grade point average for the sixth consecutive year in 2010.

“His contributions have been immeasurable,” Heeke said. “He’s really taken our program to new heights and has positioned us to be successful in the future.”

Anagnost leaves behind a young, but mature roster.

This season, the team was comprised of nine freshmen and nine sophomores. Only three seniors are due to move on.

“Things happen quickly and it was kind of a shocker,” junior defender Liesel Toth said the day after Anagnost’s departure was final. “This is just a rut in the road right now, but I think our maturity level is going to show having to deal with this. A lot of us know what he did was the right thing.”

Anagnost was due to enter the second year of a 3-year contract extension he signed prior to the 2010 season.

Stafford was named interim head coach Wednesday following the resignation of Tom Anagnost, who accepted the vacant head coaching position at the University of Miami.

Neil Stafford

Anagnost’s departure marks the second time in three seasons the women’s soccer program has had to deal with a coaching change.

“It’s been a whirlwind, so to speak,” Stafford said. “Not much sleep. Having to recharge my cell phone three times a day. Obviously a lot of different emotions are going through players and staff.”

Stafford spent his first official day as coach meeting with Marcy Weston, senior associate athletic director, to coordinate short term plans for the team and program. The Chippewas are coming off a 16-5-1 record and second consecutive Mid-American Conference tournament championship and NCAA tournament appearance.

“You’re going to have a full gambit of emotions,” Stafford said. “Young women at that age don’t understand the decisions made from what’s in their best interest professionally and personally. Once the dust settles, the ladies will start to understand a bit more.”

CMU will immediately begin a search to replace Anagnost, who was named head coach in 2009 after serving as interim head coach for the second half of the 2008 season.

Stafford, who has head coaching experience, has to be considered one of the top candidates for the job. He spent eight seasons as head coach at Assumption College (Worchester, Mass.), going 72-61-5.

“I think Tom knows I want to be head coach again,” Stafford said of the possibility of following Anagnost to Miami. “We talked about the possibilities of what was my best option to accomplish my goals. If I’m lucky enough to get this opportunity, fantastic. If not, I’ll move on.”

Finding out

Anagnost sent an e-mail to the team Tuesday night, informing them of his decision to step down and take the job at Miami.

He also sent a text message to junior defender Liesel Toth, asking her to inform the rest of the team about the e-mail.

“Things happen quickly and it was kind of a shocker,” Toth said Thursday afternoon from her home in New York. “I kind of wish we could have had a personal goodbye to him and ‘thank you’ kind of thing.

“We had some of the girls check up on the freshmen and even some of the girls coming in. We’re going to be alright.”

Toth finished second on the team in points (11) and will be one of three players to return for their senior season without Anagnost, who joined the program in 2007 as an assistant coach. Freshmen and sophomores comprised of three fourths of the team’s roster in 2010.

“This is just a rut in the road right now but I think a lot of our maturity level is going to show having to deal with this,” she said. “A lot of us know that what he did was the right thing.”

None of the freshmen were made available for comment.

Anagnost, while leading CMU to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances and Mid-American Conference titles, amassed a 40-12-7 overall record during three seasons as head coach.

Tom Anagnost

The Chippewas went 16-5-1 during the 2010 season, winning the conference regular season and tournament championships for the second consecutive year. They lost to No. 12 Marquette, 1-0, in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

“Tom has done an outstanding job leading our women’s soccer program to unprecedented heights and we appreciate all of his efforts,” CMU Athletics Director Dave Heeke said in a prepared statement. “We wish him much success at the University of Miami. While it’s difficult to see him leave CMU, our program has a solid foundation and a culture of excellence that positions us well for the future.”

Assistant coach Neil Stafford has been named interim head coach until a search is conducted find a replacement.

Anagnost was named interim head coach midway through the 2008 season after Anthony DiTucci stepped down amid allegations of sexual harassment from players and helped guide the team to a 7-3-3 rest of the season, finishing 12-5-3 and second in the MAC. He was officially named head coach in 2009 and led CMU to a program-best 17-4-3 record and upset of No. 24 Purdue in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

He also helped maintain success in the classroom as the Chippewas finished first in the nation in team GPA for the sixth straight season.

Anagnost signed a 3-year contract extension over the summer that was set to expire following the 2012 season. He earned $57,600 this year.

Miami opted not to renew former head coach Tricia Taliaferro’s contract following the 2010 season, in which the Hurricanes finished 10-8-1 and did not qualify for the Atlantic Coast Conference postseason tournament. They went 77-85-14 in nine seasons under Taliaferro.

The school had been seeking a replacement since Nov. 9.

Anagnost did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment.

And despite walking off the field for the final time in tears after losing to Marquette, the Central Michigan women’s soccer team lived up to every single one of those expectations this year.

The season came to a close Friday night after losing 1-0 to Marquette in the first round of the 2010 Women’s College Cup in Milwaukee. Wisc. The Golden Eagles are the No. 12 team in the country, and the Chippewas hung tough with them for 90 minutes, but came up just short of advancing to the second round of the tournament for the second straight season.

To break down the season, all you need to do is look at the raw numbers. The Chippewas won their second consecutive Mid-American Conference Tournament. They earned at least a share of the regular season crown for the second year in a row. And the team led the MAC in goals against average with 0.57, and in team shutouts with 12.

CMU went 9-0 at home, extending its home unbeaten streak to 24 games. The team finished the season 16-5-1 overall and 10-1 in the conference. The seniors became the winningest class in program history, earning their 53rd career win.

Going beyond the numbers, the team began the season not as well as it would have liked. CMU started 3-0, but then went on a four-game winless streak the first two weeks of September.

Questions surfaced about the maturity level of the team, and fact that it struggled to score goals. But the Chippewas hung tough, fought through the adversity and won 13 of its last 14 games going into the NCAA Tournament.

The young team featured 18 underclassmen, and looked for leadership from its three senior starters. Midfielders Valerie Prause and Jenna Hill, and goalkeeper Shay Mannino shined all year long, and head coach Tom Anagnost credits them for turning the program around.

“They are the face of the program. They’re the reason why we’re here,” Anagnost said after the season finale.

Junior defender Leisel Toth said despite the early exit from the tournament the team has a lot to be proud of.

“We can play with any team in the nation,” she said. “No one knows who Central Michigan is but we’re getting our name out there.”

Toth was the rock of the MAC’S best defense. She started all 21 games and played the most minutes on the team, playing 1,771 minutes out of a possible 1,820. She tallied four goals and three assists from the back line, and was named to the All-MAC first team for the second straight season.

Three other players earned first team All-MAC honors including Prause, sophomore forward Laura Twidle, and sophomore defender Bailey Brandon. The four made up the largest contingent of first-team players from one team.

The team also epitomized the term student-athlete as it posted the top team grade point average in the nation for the sixth consecutive year.
Mannino, who holds the MAC career record in shutouts (31) and goals against average (0.70) said the team now expects to be successful every year, and thinks the future is very bright for the young team

“We’re expected to win the MAC every year now, and get to the NCAA Tournament,” she said. “It’s great that we can do it again.”

Although CMU has had more success the past two seasons than ever before, I think its best years lay ahead. The team returns 21 players in 2011, including eight starters. The majority of the team has the experience of two NCAA Tournament appearances under their belt, and will be a force to reckon with, not only in the MAC but nationally as well.

And that was the case Friday night at Valley Fields, where No. 12 Marquette defeated Central Michigan 1-0 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Junior forward Rachael Sloan scored her seventh goal of the season during the 60th minute, breaking free off a misplayed ball to put it past senior goalkeeper Shay Mannino. The goal marked a team-leading fourth game-winning goal for Sloan.

“One simple play cost us the game,” said Mannino, who made six saves in almost 80 minutes of action. “Our team worked really hard and we put a lot of heart into it.”

Mannino ends her career at CMU with the school-record in wins (45) and goals against average (0.70) and MAC-best 31 shutouts.

“She stopped everything that came to her,” said senior midfielder Valarie Prause. “She had leadership and in the huddle she helped keep our heads in the game.”

Marquette went undefeated throughout Big East play at 11-0, earning a regular season championship and an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament.

The first half was scoreless as neither team could possess the ball for a substantial amount of time.

Marquette University senior forward Ashley Bares and CMU freshman forward Nicole Samuel battle for the ball during the first round of the NCAA women's soccer tournament at Valley Fields in Milwaukee, Wis., Friday night. Samuel accounted for one of the two shots on goal during the Chippewas' 1-0 loss. (Joe Tobianski/Staff Photographer)

But the Golden Eagles (16-4-2) opened the second half strong. They had three shots within minutes, compared to three shots during the course of the entire first half.

CMU had trouble handling the offensive transitioning of Marquette. Sloan’s goal came near the end of the MU offensive rally. She was a force throughout the game as she recorded a game-high seven shots, five of which were on goal.

“We had our chances in each half to go up a goal, or tie the game, but it didn’t happen,” said head coach Tom Anagnost. “Marquette is a great team.”

The loss ends CMU’s season with a 16-5-1 record in arguably one of its best performances.

“I think there’s a lot to be proud about because I don’t think we’re ranked and no one knows who Central Michigan is,” said junior defender Liesel Toth. “But were getting our name out there and we can compete with them and we’re all really proud.”

Despite the early exit from the NCAA Tournament, the CMU soccer program has high hopes for the future. Toth, Prause and Mannino all believe the program can continue its success.

In addition to Mannino, the Chippewas lose Prause and midfielder Jenna Hill. The program returns 21 players for the 2011-2012 season.

“We have bigger dreams now,” said Prause, who recorded two shots in the game. “The program needs to move on from here.”

Said Anagnost: “I think our kids got a taste of the next level and where we are at. Collectively, we want to continue striving to get better every day and I’m looking forward to what we have (next season).”

Marquette will continue on to the second round where it plays Wisconsin at 1 p.m. Sunday. The Badgers defeated UW-Milwaukee 2-1 Friday before the MU-CMU game.

For the second consecutive year, CMU is headed to the NCAA Tournament.

The Chippewas defeated Western Michigan 3-1 Sunday, winning the Mid-American Conference tournament and clinching a berth in the tournament for the second time in school history.

CMU head coach Tom Anagnost, in his third year at the helm, has guided the team to its first two NCAA Tournament appearances in school history.

“It hasn’t really hit yet what’s happened,” Anagnost said. “I’m kind of still decompressing. I’m obviously really proud of the result, and how we preserved the win.”

CMU put the game out of reach in the 87th minute when sophomore midfielder Ashley Mejilla broke away from the defense at midfield and and slipped a shot past WMU goalkeeper Julia Francy.

“I got a little touch by the defender and just had a break away,” Mejilla said. “I just set it up for myself.”

Anagnost said Mejilla, whose five goals this season puts her second on the team, played her best game of the season.

“She was unbelievable today,” he said. “She was the best player on the field.”

Mejilla’s late goal was the only offense for CMU in the second half. The Chippewas took a 2-0 lead into the last 45 minutes, but weren’t able to control the ball, leading to several WMU shots on CMU senior goalkeeper Shay Mannino.

The Broncos scored their first goal of the game in the 68th minute, slimming CMU’s lead to 2-1.
“They had a free kick and we headed it out, but not far enough,” Mannino said about WMU’s goal.

“The girl got the rebound and put it away. It was a great finish.”

Anagnost said his team lost focus in the second half, especially after WMU scored its goal. He said the Broncos gained a lot of momentum and became a more physical team, putting pressure on the Chippewas defense to maintain its lead.

“It was chaotic. It was mere chaos,” Anagnost said. “It was an extraordinarily physical game. (WMU) slipped one in and I think our kids lost their composure out there. I know we can perform better.”

Although CMU struggled to posses the ball for most of the first 20 minutes, the Chippewas dominated the offense in the first half, netting two goals on 11 shots.

With just over 15 minutes remaining in the half, junior forward Chelsi Abbott dribbled around a Bronco defender and served the ball into the box while sophomore forward Laura Twidle leaped in the air and headed the ball past Francy for the game’s first goal.

Twidle’s goal was her eighth of the season, which leads the team, and is the most in MAC play.
Sophomore forward, Charlese McLemore added her third goal of the year with just a few minutes left in the first half, which proved to be the game winner.

The Chippewas will find out who they draw in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at 4:30 p.m. today during the tournament selection show. The team opens tournament play Friday.

All-MAC honors

Sophomore forward Laura Twidle, senior midfielder Valerie Prause, junior defender Liesel Toth and sophomore defender Bailey Brandon were all named first team All-MAC honors before the tournament started on Friday.

In addition, freshmen Nicole Samuel, Kaely Schlosser and Estee Outcalt were named to the All-MAC third team.

It defeated in-state rival Western Michigan (10-7-5) 3-1 in Toledo, Ohio, Sunday at the Scott Park Soccer Complex to earn itself an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament.

It’s the second consecutive trip to the tournament for the CMU women’s soccer program. Last year, it defeated No. 24 Purdue 2-0 in South Bend, Ind.

Then junior defender Liesel Toth scored on a penalty kick to put Purdue away and help the Chippewas earn their first NCAA Tournament victory. The season came to an end after it lost 6-1 to host No. 5 Notre Dame.

The experience of being to the national tournament before will be key to the 2010-2011 tournament run.

“It makes a big difference,” said head coach Tom Anagnost. “We are a team that has been there before.”

There are currently 15 players on the roster that went to the NCAAs last season.

CMU is the first MAC team to win consecutive regular season and conference tournament championships since Northern Illinois accomplished it in 1997-98.

The Chippewas (16-4-1) currently have a five-game winning streak. Its last lost came from co-regular season champion Toledo 1-0 on Oct. 22.

Since Anagnost has taken over the program in 2008, the Chippewas have earned two regular season titles and as many conference tournament championships. Along with those accomplishments, he’s directed CMU’s soccer program into a MAC contender. The win Sunday proved just that. It now looks to continue its winning ways in the NCAA tournament.

“It’s one game and out,” Anagnost said. “We’ve been doing that for three games now and it’s a great accomplishment and hopefully we can continue.”

For the seniors, every game could be their last. Senior Shay Mannino believes the run can continue and is honored to be back to the NCAA Tournament.

“I think we know how to prepare and it depends on who we play,” said Mannino. “Just being there is so exciting.”

Sophomore midfielder Ashley Mejilla also said the team can continue its winning ways and make a run in the tournament. Mejilla solidified the championship game against the Broncos with her breakaway goal during the 89th minute.

“I don’t think we can be any more confident than we are now,” Mejilla said.