Goalkeeper leads team to Boston
Junior goalkeeper Danielle Frank could take most of the credit for CMU’s stellar defensive play during the Mid-American Conference Field Hockey Tournament, but she won’t.
Frank made eight saves and allowed only one goal in three games, leading CMU to its first tournament title in 15 years.
The lone goal came in CMU’s 3-1 championship game win against Miami Saturday.
“I don’t think I elevated my play at all,” she said. “I think it was all the defense. They stepped up so much and they played so awesome.”
Frank made four saves in the win against Miami, outplaying MU’s All-MAC goalkeeper Kerri Orr who made three saves and allowed three goals.
“It means everything (winning the tournament),” Frank said. “It’s what we worked for all season.”
CMU didn’t look anything like a team poised to make a run in the MAC Tournament following a 6-0 loss to Ball State Oct. 22.
The team finished the regular season 8-11 overall and 5-5 in the MAC.
However, Frank said she knew the Chippewas had it in them to do something special in the post-season.
“We were a good team all season,” she said. “We just weren’t consistent throughout the year.”
The Chippewas played their best field hockey at just the right time. They started the tournament with a 4-0 win against Missouri State as Frank only had to make one save.
In the semifinal, CMU upset top-seeded Kent State as Frank recorded her second consecutive shutout, making three saves. It was the first time since 2002 that it had beaten Kent State.
Then came the title game against Miami. Frank held the RedHawks off the scoreboard in the second half after she allowed her only goal of the tournament to Miami’s Taylor Florence.
Up Next
- What: CMU vs. No. 18 Boston
- Where: Jack Barry Field, Cambridge, Mass.
- When: Tuesday at 1 p.m.
- Winner advances to play in the NCAA Tournament
“Dani came up big all weekend,” said CMU coach Cristy Freese. “She was very determined in the tournament and came up big in every game.”
CMU travels to Cambridge, Mass. to play No. 18 Boston University, the America East Conference champions, in a play-in game for a bid to the 16-team NCAA Tournament. Frank believes more than ever CMU is a force to be reckoned with.
“We couldn’t get the MAC Championship in the regular season, so all along our goal if we didn’t get that was to win the MAC Tournament,” she said. “Now we did, so we’re on to Boston.”
Boston, who won its first tournament title since 2000, scored three goals in a six minute span to beat Maine 3-1.
The Terriers are led by AEC Player of the Year Sarah Shute who has 10 goals and 24 points on the season. Goalkeeper Erin Prediger is 15-3 and sports a 1.08 goals against average.
CMU senior midfield Erica Takach is one of four seniors who played on the 2002 team that won the MAC regular season title.
That team was consistent throughout the year, but lost in the semifinals of the tournament.
“We just want to prolong our season,” Takach said. “Especially for us seniors, this is it for us. It’s do or die.”
