Field hockey makes adjustments, beats Saint Louis
Following its 3-0 shutout loss against UC-Davis Saturday, Central Michigan women’s field hockey head coach Cristy Freese made some adjustments.
Those adjustments paid off Sunday as the team went on to beat Saint Louis 2-1 in St. Louis, Mo.
“We not only changed our starting lineup, we also changed our system a little bit, and I sort of like what we did with that,” Freese said.
Normally the team plays with three forwards and three midfielders out on the field, but today they started one less midfielder, adding an extra defender to the field.
“(The change) really helped our passing game,” Freese said.
CMU (2-4) rotated two new freshmen into their starting lineup. Ellen Riley and Abby Roth each made their first career starts, and Riley contributed her first collegiate point, setting up the first goal of the game.
Freshman Alexis Gerbasch scored her first career goal in the 24th minute to put the Chippewas up 1-0. The goal came off a scramble in front of the net, assisted by Riley.
“Ellen did a great job,” Freese said. “She really gave us not only good offense in the circle but good energy.” Just before the half, SLU back Lauryn Smith scored off a rebound to the right of the net.
“We gave up a goal we shouldn’t have in the end of the first half to tie it up,” Freese said, “In the second half, we were mostly in our offensive half and were able to score on a penalty corner as time expired.”
The game stayed tied until the 70th minute of play. CMU earned a penalty corner in the game’s last minute of regulation and senior Amanda von Leer capitalized, scoring her first goal of the season.
Junior Anastasia Netto allowed just one goal on SLU’s seven shots, making three saves. She was tested early in the second half, having to make four consecutive saves, but stayed strong.
On the other end, SLU goaltender Alex LaBarge allowed two goals and made nine saves in 70 minutes.
CMU recorded 18 shots to SLU’s seven, winning the shots battle for the first time this season.
“I think we played better as a team today,” Freese said.
Saturday
CMU struggled offensively Saturday, being held scoreless despite making 12 shots.
UC-Davis got on the board in the 26th minute when a penalty corner rebound rolled to Lindsey Valadez’s stick.
The Aggies added two more goals, both coming off breakaways to put the game out of reach for the Chippewas.
“I feel like we’re still trying to work the teamwork aspect a little better with our young group and unfortunately it’s taking a little longer than I thought it would,” Freese said.
The team returns home at 2 p.m. Saturday against New Hampshire at the CMU Field Hockey Complex, the start of a three-week homestand.
