Chippewas look to gain position
The final weekend of Mid-American Conference field hockey play is important for all teams — especially for Central.
The Chippewas host Ohio 3 p.m. today and Kent State at noon Saturday.
CMU (7-9, 4-4 MAC) is tied for third in the conference and holds the tiebreaker against Ball State, whose overall record is 4-11.
“We want to have a say in the championship,” said CMU coach Cristy Freese. “Having the third or fourth seed is maybe not the say we wanted to have at the beginning of the season, but we will do whatever it takes.”
Central was picked to finish fourth in the MAC at the start of the season, but many thought that to be a low ranking with the experience CMU has.
“We have a lot of talent on this team,” said junior Erica Takach. “We are still going to fight no matter what happens.”
Takach leads the team with 10 goals this season.
Freese said she never thought this season would have turned out the way it has.
“It has been a struggle because we have been inconsistent,” Freese said. “The way we played last week against Ball State is the way we are capable of playing.”
Central controlled the Cardinals in a 2-1 victory last week.
The MAC Tournament will take place at Ball State Nov. 4-6.
Central beat Ohio in its first meeting this season, 2-1.
The Bobcats are fifth in the conference at 3-5 and boast one of the best goalkeepers in the conference in Jen Cote.
Cote is three saves shy of breaking into the MAC’s Top 10 for saves in a season with 145 so far.
Kent State is second in the conference standings at 6-2, one game behind Louisville which stands at 7-2.
The Golden Flashes seem a lock for the No. 2 seed since Louisville plays Miami Saturday. Miami is 1-8 in conference play.
“I am not putting my money on Louisville losing this weekend,” said Kent State coach Kerry DeVries.
KSU plays at Ball State before traveling to CMU.
The Chippewas were defeated 2-1 in overtime in the first meeting of the two teams.
“It is going to be another battle and I think Central is one of the best teams in this conference,” DeVries said.
