Williamson returns from broken rib for matches against ISU, Eastern
Amanda PapkeForward Jennifer Williamson will return from injury when the women’s soccer team plays Illinois State and Eastern Michigan this weekend.
The senior has been out since a Sept. 5 victory against Cincinnati, where she suffered a broken rib in a collision with the Bearcats goalkeeper.
“I’m breaking the seal, I am ready to come back for the rest of the season to help my team win the MAC,” Williamson said.
The ISU game is at 3:30 p.m. today in Normal, Ill. Central will host Eastern at 1 p.m. Sunday.
Williamson is tied for third on the CMU career goals list with 13. Stacy Downing (three goals) and Rachel Snyder (four), a pair of sophomores, have helped picked up the offense in her absence.
Snyder scored two of those goals in last weekend’s wins over Ball State and Miami, earning her MAC Player of the Week honors.
The goal against BSU was the game-winner in overtime, and the goal against the RedHawks tied the score at one. She also assisted on the game winner.
“She has improved a lot from a year ago, mostly in terms of her mental approach” said coach Mark Salisbury. “She knows that she’s not a finished product yet and still has two-and-a-half seasons to get better than where she is at now.”
The Chippewas enter the weekend on their first two-game winning streak of the season.
Freshman goalkeeper Anne Decker won both games, including her second shutout of the season against Ball State. She ranks second in the MAC in save percentage (.853) and is fourth in goals against average (.078).
The team has made defensive improvements, only allowing nine goals in nine games, putting it at 4-3-2 overall and 3-2-1 in the MAC.
“It’s a whole team effort,” said senior Cari VanDyck. “Our team is giving a lot more effort and a lot more heart and making it easier on everyone.”
Central will play a non-conference game against Illinois State Friday. The Redbirds are 3-3-2 overall and are led by Dianna Puckett and Michelle Brumbaugh, who each have two goals.
Salisbury said he is using the game for the team to show improvements.
“We are approaching it as an important game for us,” he said. If we come out of that game and we are lacking confidence and questioning ourselves, that is not the way we want to be.”
The team will close the weekend against Eastern. The Eagles are undefeated in MAC play and are 4-3-3 overall. Cyndi Mullins leads EMU with four goals and an assist, and goalkeeper Nikki Allen has a 1.33 GAA.
“Eastern is always a good game for us, they are a very physical team,” VanDyck said. “We just need to do the key things we have been working on.”
The Chippewas have gained confidence from their recent successes, but Salisbury still wants to see the team compete for 90 minutes and capitalize on scoring opportunities.
“There is a lot more confidence within the girls,” Williamson said. “We are playing with more aggression, the defense is a lot more physical, and people are playing more to the level we need in games in practice.”
