CMU field hockey loses in semifinals for fifth-straight season
It was the same tune for the Central Michigan field hockey team that lost in the semifinals for the fifth-straight year Friday.
The Chippewas were optimistic with two close losses to Kent State coming in overtime.
But the Golden Flashes let their fan’s hearts rest easy with a lopsided 4-1 victory.
“The difference in the game was penalty corner execution,” said CMU coach Cristy Freese. “They lift the ball to the far post, just out of (Anastasia Netto’s) reach.”
Julianna Makrinos snatched the first lead in the fifth minute for CMU.
“We were actually really excited because we scored the first goal and we knew that we started the game off strong,” Makrinos said. “It was pretty disappointing that we did not get a goal soon after.”
Kent State followed by tallying four unanswered goals, including three in a five-minute span in the second half.
Round one
Missouri State and the Chippewas were going in opposite directions entering Thursday’s first round matchup.
CMU had dropped its previous three games while the Bears won their last four.
But they seemed to meet paths when it was scoreless at halftime. The Chippewas sprung back into a positive direction thereafter.
CMU junior Erin Dye began and ended the second half with goals.
Both were a result of a play that the Chippewas worked on in their last two practices.
“Cayleigh (Immelman) passes the ball a little lower into the circle and Erin one-times it in and it worked to perfection both times,” Freese said.
Dye’s last goal widened the margin to two after Immelman and Bears forward Casey Bayliss traded scores, giving the Chippewas a 2-1 lead.
“It was a little scary there, so we knew we needed to get insurance goals,” Dye said. “We definitely took control of the ball, tried to get them on our end and get some more opportunities that we could finish on.”
Recapping the season Chippewas floor leader Paulina Lee ended her senior season with 10 assists. No CMU player had surpassed nine in the previous two seasons.
“Last year after the season, one area that we wanted Paulina to improve in was her vision to see the open player and make the pass,” Freese said. “I think she’s improved on both of them. You got to improve on the skill to make the pass and the vision to see it”
Immelman won MAC Freshman of the Year and All-MAC first team as a result of the 33 points she contributed this season. Simone Lazar was also a MAC first-team member. Lee, Dye and Netto were second team All-MAC.
