Central looks to separate from pack
Amanda PapkeThe women’s soccer team looks to separate itself from the middle of the conference pack against Akron Friday.
Central (6-5-2, 4-4-1 MAC) also plays Michigan in a non-conference game Sunday.
The Chippewas are in a three-way tie for third in the MAC with 13 points. The Zips are just one point back.
“The Akron game is huge, we have to win that game,” said coach Mark Salisbury. “With the talent we have and the talent we have shown, we can be a very good team.”
Central had an opportunity to move up into the top third of the MAC, but suffered a disappointing loss to Marshall last weekend.
They were down 2-0 at the half, but sophomore Stacy Downing scored two second-half goals to tie the score. With less than two minutes remaining, Marshall scored again to earn its second MAC win.
“Sunday was definitely not our best and we know that we can do better, so we are going to come out with our best games this weekend,” said senior Jacqui Lorenzo.
Throughout the season Central has struggled to score early. The team has only had one halftime lead in its 13 games.
“It’s very important for us to get a lead,” Lorenzo said. “As soon as we score, we have all the confidence to keep putting them in.”
Akron is on a three-game winning streak and is coming off a bye week.
The Zips are led by goalkeeper Crystal Tabor (four shutouts in the team’s five wins) and Mirka Mohs (six goals and 13 points).
“We are just going to go out and do our best,” Lorenzo said. “We had a couple of kinks we needed to work out and this week at practice has been really good, so we are going to go out there and play our game.”
CMU will finish the weekend against Michigan Sunday. The Wolverines are fifth in the Big Ten and are playing Central for the first time.
The game features two of the state’s top freshmen goaltenders. Michigan’s Megan Tuura who has a 0.55 goals-against-average, and Central’s Anne Decker, who has a 0.95 GAA.
“The Michigan game is definitely a trophy. If we can take that game it is something we will remember forever,” Salisbury said.
Central closes its season with a five-game road trip, three being MAC games. Salisbury said his team is continuing to grow and nobody is lacking in confidence.
The players are looking for a strong finish to the season.
“We want to end on a good note,” Lorenzo said. “When everyone comes out to play we can’t be stopped.”
