Kicking it off
Soccer team confident headed into second week of season
Hard work and a quiet confidence will be the mantra of the Central Michigan University soccer team in 2014.
“The energy is good and the enthusiasm is good,” Head Coach Peter McGahey said. “We have returned from the summer physically and mentally in very good shape.”
A year after finishing 7-3 in Mid-American Conference play and earning a spot in the conference tournament quarterfinals, the Chippewas seem primed for a strong season and a eventual return to the postseason play.
Key Players:
Senior forward Laura Gosse started 19 matches last season and is a proven striking force. She put the ball in the back of the net five times to lead the squad in goals in 2013, a duplicate of her goal production the season before.
Putting 13 shots on goal, she also scored three game-winning goals last season. Gosse said she is holding herself to a high standard in 2014.
“As an individual, I would like to be one of those players that can be counted on,” Gosse said.
Sophomore midfielder Eliza Van De Kerkhove has emerged as a dangerous option out wide for CMU in 2014. She is one of the fastest players Chippewas’ fans will see all year. “On the wings, we are confident because we have a couple of the fastest girls in the MAC,” Gosse said. “Having the ability to take a player one on one and find a cross or situation where we can actually get a shot on goal.”
Van De Kerkhove used her speed to tally four points and put herself in position for 22 shots in 2013.
Senior midfielder Emily Cooksey was a major scorer for the Chippewas in 2013. She led the team in overall shots and shots on goal with 38 and 19 respectively. She found the back of the net three times last season including a game-winning goal against Ohio.
Senior Jennifer Gassman returns from season-ending injury last season. Gassman scored the first goal of the 2013 season before suffering a leg injury two matches later. McGahey called Gassman’s comeback effort during the offseason “The real deal.”
Schedule:
CMU season started with a 0-7-1 record outside the MAC in 2013. Here are key dates on this year’s non-conference calendar:
Sunday, Sept. 28: Reigning MAC Tournament Champions Western Michigan University come to Mount Pleasant. The Broncos won the conference tournament for the second time in program history before knocking off No. 2 Marquette in the NCAA College Cup. The preseason conference favorites are not only the Chippewas’ biggest rivals, but are one of the top college programs in the nation heading into the season.
Friday Oct. 3: Ball State, who knocked CMU out of last year’s conference tournament quarterfinal, host the game. The Chippewas look for revenge at the expense of this MAC West opponent, which finished 6-4-2 in the conference last season.
Sunday, Oct. 12: Eastern Michigan University tagged the Chippewas with a 3-0 drubbing last season. The Eagles went on to finish top in the west division with an 8-2-1 record and will a tough team to beat in 2014 once again.
With back-to-back trips to the NCAA tournament in their recent memory, the women say they are ready to take the necessary steps to make a return to the national stage.
“Our first goal is to reach the MAC tournament. That is where it all starts. Making that quarter finals is essential,” Gosse said.
