Field hockey loses OT heartbreaker to Villanova, 3-2
The Central Michigan field hockey team lost seven games by a goal, three coming in overtime, in the 2011 season.
Add another excruciatingly close loss this season.The Chippewas were defeated in overtime 3-2 against Villanova Sunday, in the Robert Morris Tournament final.
Though it was another close game that was up for grabs, it did feel different for the Chippewas.
“A one-goal deficit is always something that’s a little worse than an even bigger deficit, because it leaves a lot of what-if questions,” senior Erin Dye said. “But I think there are some definite positives.”
Playing without injured Skylar VanNatta, CMU valiantly came back to make it a game in the second half.
“I’m proud of the team,” head coach Cristy Freese said. “When you can bring it back from two-nothing and make a game of it — I’m really proud of the team there. We had one of our key starters out.”
Villanova led 2-0 at the end of the first half, with three shots on goal, while the Chippewas did not tally any.
The Wildcats grabbed a 1-0 lead 21 minutes and 59 seconds into the game from a shot by Carolynn Clark. Keira Zambon added another for the Wildcats, as the first half was coming to a close, in the 33rd minute.
But the Chippewas entered the second half anew. The Wildcats did add three more shots on goal in the second, but CMU had 11.
“At halftime, we talked about how we just had to have more discipline and do the little things well,” Freese said. “The kids really responded, and, certainly, we controlled the second half.
“We had opportunities to get that third goal, but we just couldn’t finish it off.”
A new dangerous tandem, Erin Dye and Bailey McKeon, for CMU landed two consecutive punches in the 49th minute, scoring goals 23 seconds apart, respectively.
“It was awesome,” Dye said. “We definitely had the momentum going after we got that first goal, and to see Bailey put it in…we changed to a different team after the first half.”
CMU came back by not allowing VU to capitalize on seven corners in the first half. But the Chippewas could not stop the 14th corner in overtime, with one less defender, per field hockey’s overtime rules.
Olivia Maggitti received a pass from Amy Jackson and closed the game out in the 78th minute.
Game one
The field hockey team won their first game of the season, which was too close for comfort, against Radford 2 -1 in the Robert Morris Tournament.
“I think there are things that we certainly need to do better, but we really could have put this game out of reach, and we didn’t,” Freese said. “So, you’ve got to score the goals that are the open net goals, and we missed that opportunity today.”
The Chippewas won as a result of two familiar names notching goals.
McKeon capitalized on a goal in the ninth minute. Dye scored the second goal six minutes later.
The Chippewa defense was most impressive. Goalie Anastasia Netto only had to make one save in the first half.
The Highlanders finally infiltrated the defense in the second half, scoring a goal in the 56th minute, but CMU held on.
“Our defense got a little disorganized,” Freese said. “It’s still your first game of the season, so there’s still some game situations that our kids have to get used to, but I think we handled it well, getting scored on and just not letting them tie up the game.”
