CMU field hockey wins first home game since 2021
Central Michigan University senior forward Mallory Camryn scores the first goal of the game for the Chippewas during a penalty stroke at Cristy Freese Field on Sunday, Sept. 5, 2025. Camryn scored both of the team's goals against Mercyhurst University. (CM Life | Jasmine Brookins)
Entering the second half with zero points for both teams, CMU sophomore forward Carolena Ryon scores the penalty stroke goal to end the scoring drought.
This is Ryon’s third goal of the season, which is already tripled from last season. With her goal, the game turned around for the Chippewas, and they won 4-0 against Mercyhurst University.
CMU’s record moves to 1-2 for the season.
Throughout the game, both teams were struggling to get past each other. During the first half, the scoreboard at the end of the first half was 0-0. The Chippewas had 8 corners, but were struggling to jumpstart their offense off the corners.
“Well, we subbed a lot, and I think there was a little confusion on who was supposed to be doing what with corners,” Jennifer Johnstone, head coach, said about jumpstarting the offense off the corners. “I think we just really have to take advantage of those opportunities a bit more.”
After the Chippewas's first goal, freshman middle forward Mora Rulli #14 got a penalty corner which turned into a goal for senior forward Mallory Camryn #29 with assists from Ryon and Rulli.
Camryn transferred from Maine in 2024, where she received Second Team All-Regional honors. Last season she started in all 17 games, led the Chippewas with 10 goals, and was named to the All-MAC First Team.
After two scores in the third quarter, the Chippewas kept their momentum entering the last quarter. It started with a penalty corner for senior forward/middle forward Amelia Lane #1 and shots by Camryn and sophomore middle forward Peyton Pallman #22.
Then Ryon swooped in and scores her second goal of the game, which leaves CMU ahead by three goals.
“(Ryon's) relentless in the circle, she’s got a great shot, and she knows how to finish around a keeper,” Coach Johnstone said. “I knew she was going to make that stroke, I just knew it, she’s a competitor.”
With about eight minutes left in the game, Rulli gets a penalty corner, and junior forward Cameron Pluciennik #28 turns it into a score with an assist by Camryn.
CMU ended the game with 32 shots, 21 of which were on goal. Graduate goalkeeper Ashley Cogger #40 had 0 goals allowed, after facing one goal.
Game 2
CMU and Mercyhurst met for the second game of the weekend on Sunday afternoon.
It was a much tighter game, with Mercyhurst looking better on the offensive side of the ball compared to Friday’s matchup.
“Anytime you play a team two times in one weekend, it's a challenge for sure,” Johnstone said. “Though we started the game a lot stronger today, as the game went on in the second half, we got a little sloppy, (a) little careless at times.”
Central Michigan was the team to get on the scoreboard first.
About 11 minutes into the match, the Lakers were called for a foul, giving the Chippewas a penalty stroke opportunity. Camryn stepped up and netted her fifth goal of the season, giving Central Michigan an early 1-0 lead.
Mercyhurst responded early in the second quarter. Using a penalty corner, the Lakers scored their first goal of the weekend, knotting the score up at one.
Despite giving up the goal, Central Michigan kept applying offensive pressure for the remainder of the half. Ultimately, the two teams went into halftime tied.
Both squads continued to battle in the third quarter, however neither was able to score a goal in the period.
Finally, in the opening minutes of the fourth, the Chippewas caught a break. Camryn took a pass off of a penalty corner, dribbled the ball towards the net, dodged multiple defenders and hit a backhanded shot into the net for her second goal of the game.
“ I just knew that we were tied,” Camryn said. “I knew that that corner (attempt) was my time to put it in.”
Camryn, who already has six goals in the 2025 season, is getting close to a career milestone. Camryn currently sits at 94 career points, split between both her time at the University of Maine and her most recent stint at CMU, putting her on track to break 100 points in the next few games.
Camryn’s goal would end up being enough, as the Chippewas finished off the sweep of the Lakers.
While Johnstone acknowledged that it was exciting to win her first two home games as head coach of the Chippewas, she made it clear that there is still room for improvement for a team that is relatively young.
“We have to remember, we have 17 freshmen and sophomores on our roster,” Johnstone said. “They have a lot to grow. They have a lot to learn, which is really exciting. We're learning how to win. We're learning how to play with poise in situations where we need to.”
The Chippewas will hit the road again as the team heads to New York to face Colgate on Friday.
”(We) got work to do to clean up for Colgate,” Johnstone said. “We know we have a great opportunity ahead of us again next weekend on the road.”
