Reed, Folk score in loss
Amanda Papke
Junior Kristy Reed converted a late game-tying penalty stroke, but CMU could not hold off Kent State in a 3-2 loss Thursday.
The loss dropped the field hockey team to 2-6 overall and 1-2 in the MAC. Sophomore Alisa Folk scored her fifth goal at 17:10 to open the scoring. Berber Reischen answered two minutes later scoring on a pass from Rebecca Rahaim to tie the score for the Golden Flashes.
The Chippewas return to action at 3 p.m. today against MAC foe Ohio. They will then try to crack a tough Iowa defense, when CMU hosts the Hawkeyes 1 p.m. Sunday.
Rahaim scored four minutes into the second half Thursday to give the visiting Golden Flashes the lead. Reed’s penalty stroke tied the score at two, before Reischen scored the game winner with 6:56 to play.
“I thought we outplayed them everywhere but the scoreboard,” said CMU coach Cristy Freese. “Kent is a good team, and they are very strong offensively, but we didn’t let goals get us down.”
The Chippewas had trouble stopping Kent State’s penalty corners, as the Golden Flashes converted two into goals.
“We struggled a little bit with our corner defense today,” Freese said. “It is dissapointing when you feel you play really, really well in every aspect of the game, but still lose.”
CMU’s inexperience may have given the team some difficulty.
“We had the organization of our defense down,” Freese said. “Experienced teams can make those plays and we couldn’t quite make them.”
The Chippewas outshot Kent State 16-9, but Freese downplayed the disparity on the stat sheet.
“I thought we outplayed Kent, But we don’t get points in the MAC standings for outplaying anyone,” she said.
Senior Allison Foland was not pleased with her play, especially on penalty corners.
“When Kent scored its first goal on a penalty corner, and then scored another goal on the same play, we needed to change our corner defense,” Foland said.
Foland is starting at center-mid after playing most of the season at defender.
“I really like center-mid because I get a chance to effect everyone on the field with the way I play,” Foland said.
The Chippewas are 1-2 in the MAC, and are looking to win their second MAC game against a 2-6 Ohio team today. The Bobcats are 0-1 in the MAC, and are coming off of a 4-1 loss to No. 10 Michigan State.
Elizabeth Holtzman leads the team with four goals, one assist and nine points. Ohio has been outscored 27-12 this season.
“We certainly know more about OU than Iowa,” Freese said. “Iowa plays a good passing game so the two teams will be similar in that aspect.”
The Chippewas are playing back-to-back games for the first time this season.
“I do not think it will be a problem,” Freese said. “We play four games in the next six days, and as a player, games are the most exciting.”
But Freese is worried about No. 6 Iowa. The Hawkeyes are 8-2 on the season and 1-0 in the Big Ten. After losing its first two games to Wake Forest and North Carolina, the Hawkeyes have won eight straight.
Iowa’s defense has given up only seven goals all season. Senior Pattie Gillem leads the team with 11 goals and 23 points.
Iowa plays at No. 5 Michigan Saturday in a Big Ten showdown before heading to CMU. Iowa holds the series lead 2-0.
“Our game plan is never different, because we have a certain style of play,” Freese said. “We try to get somewhat of a scouting report about what the other team does on free hits, and what they do on penalty corners, but we don’t alter our game too much.”
Foland does not care who the team plays either, she has one thing in mind.
“Both of these teams are really good, so we need to take them out of their game,” she said. “We can’t let them go to their strong side if we want to be successful.”
