Field hockey starts season 0-2, aims to improve defense
Two teams near the top of the NCAA Field Hockey rankings came to Mount Pleasant this weekend, outscoring the Chippewas 15-4.
The Central Michigan University field hockey team hosted Delaware and Michigan State on its opening weekend, losing both games.
On Friday, CMU head coach Molly Pelowski said improving the defense was key for the team moving forward, especially with the team hitting the road for a four-game stretch away from Mount Pleasant.
After allowing six goals and 14 shots in the first half against UD, the Chippewas tightened up on defense against the Spartans. MSU was only able to generate eight shots and one goal in the first half on Saturday.
Senior Kaysie Gregory scored her third goal in two games against MSU.
In the second half however, MSU flexed its muscle with four unanswered goals. Claire Johnson of MSU scored two goals in the game and Sophie Macadre assisted on two goals.
Coming off a six save game on Friday against UD, goalkeeper Sadie Lynn Reynolds had 15 saves against the Blue Hens.
This season, CMU lost two defensive backs to graduation in Jordyn Brengosz and Chloe McIlwaine. Now the back line only has only two seniors, as the other three are underclassmen.
Spreading out and trusting each other is important to improving the defense, said Pelowski. “We’re not getting open in the middle of the field, we have to make the field bigger,” she said.
Looking forward, Pelowski pinpointed a few things which need to be fixed.
“Corner defense, outlet passes and individual defense. It’s not brain surgery, we just have to think about what we’re doing," she said.
“Physically we never quit, mentally we lost it and were not organized. But for 70 minutes we’re going to stick in a match,” Pelowski said.
The Chippewas go on its first road trip of the season next week, traveling to Richmond, Virginia to take on Virginia Commonwealth on Friday.
