Field hockey beats Kent State 2-1 to claim MAC title
It has been more than a decade since Central Michigan University’s field hockey team left the field smiling after winning a Mid-American Conference championship.
Saturday’s 2-1 championship victory over Kent State proved to be worth the wait.
“Euphoric” was the word goalkeeper Sadie Reynolds used to describe her feelings following CMU’s first MAC Championship since 2002.
“Those last four to five seconds seemed like two minutes,” coach Cristy Freese said. “I’m just excited for these kids. These kids have worked hard. We went through a rough September and they stuck with it and kept working hard.”
CMU’s conference title did not come easy.
Kent State controlled possession throughout most of the second half. A corner shot by the Golden Flashes was shuttered by the CMU defense in the closing moments – a game-saving play.
With nine seconds left in the first half, Caleigh Immelman received a pass from junior Kaysie Gregory off a penalty corner and put a shot past the KSU goalkeeper.
It was Immelmann's eighth goal of the season, and Gregory's seventh assist.
When the clock hit zero, the Central Michigan bench exploded with joyous celebration, as the women exchanged hugs.
Students and fans ran on to the field to congratulate the team.
“Winning a MAC title was our goal all along,” junior Kaysie Gregory said. “Just having that title is pretty important to us. This is pretty unreal.”
The Chippewas lost the 2012 MAC Championship to Kent State in overtime. This year, Freese said her team’s triumph was inevitable.
“Our seniors couldn’t be denied this time,” Freese said. “They really showed a lot of guts.”
Caleigh Immelman’s game-winning goal late in the first half was the highlight of her time in Mount Pleasant.
“Walking off this field everyone is going to know our names,” Immelman said. “We’re proud to be Central Michigan.”
