Freese: CMU playing best field hockey of season
Coach Cristy Freese said the field hockey team is playing the best it has all season.
And it couldn’t have come at a better time.
CMU (10-8 overall, 5-3 Mid-American Conference) started MAC play with an 0-3 record, but has won five consecutive conference games since. It sits one game behind first place Ohio. The Chippewas play the Bobcats at 1 p.m. Friday in Athens, Ohio.
“I think everything we have been working on is finally showing in the games,” said sophomore Samantha Sandham.
The Chippewas have scored seven goals the past two games.
“I think we turned into a dangerous team offensively,” Freese said. “It’s probably what I thought we would be able to do.”
Sandham leads the team in scoring with 29 points. She has 11 goals and seven assists on the season.
“We’re sticking with the same lineup now,” Freese said. “We moved Samantha to forward and that is more of her natural position.”
Forwards senior Alicia Balanesi and sophomore Kelly Jordan have produced well the last few games.
Freese attributes some of the success of the forwards to the work of assistant coach Earl Marais.
Each practice Marais takes the forwards aside to give some additional attention to shooting and situational scoring opportunities.
Central has a four-game winning streak overall.
“Obviously, once you win games, you’re going to feel more confident,” Jordan said. “We need to stay focused.”
Notes:
Goalkeeper Danielle Frank was selected to play in the National Field Hockey Coaches Association Senior All-Star Game on Nov. 18 in Wintson-Salem, N.C.
