CMU field hockey shut out by Michigan in in-state battle
Central Michigan University senior forward Cameron Pluciennik races toward the net at the field hockey game at Cristy Freese Field on Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (CM-Life | Jasmine Brookins)
The University of Michigan field hockey team came to Mount Pleasant, along with a strong turnout from Wolverine fans, and handed Central Michigan field hockey its first home loss of the season.
Michigan, currently ranked No. 13 in the country, spent much of the first quarter on the offensive, but it wasn’t until the second quarter that the team broke through and scored with Juliette Manzur knocking in her first goal of the season off an assist from Eva Bernardy.
As the clock ticked down in the first half, the Wolverines mounted an attack and Cami Wiseman scored off a ricochet with 11 seconds to go before halftime.
In the third quarter, Manzur scored twice more, completing her first career hat trick. Both shots were assisted by freshman Matilda Gibson.
Sofia Abraham’s goal in the fourth quarter was her first career goal, as well as Michigan’s fifth and final of the game. Michigan won the game 5-0.
Michigan averaged six penalty corners per game this season before Sunday’s contest, but received 13 against CMU.
Much pressure was placed on junior goalkeeper Jenna Billig and the defense. The Chippewas surrendered a goal on three of the 13 Michigan corners.
CMU head coach Kelly Terwilliger praised Billig and the defense for simply doing their job.
“Jenna’s job and what she’s born to do is to keep the ball out of the net. Sometimes keepers enjoy these games,” Terwilliger said.
Despite the defeat, Terwilliger wants the squad to learn and grow as a team from their loss against Michigan.
“It’s all about us,” Terwilliger said. “We have to see what we did extremely well today and multiply it for next Friday,”
She emphasized improvement in tempo and learning to mesh and move the ball as a team.
Central Michigan will resume conference play when it hosts Ball State on Friday, Sept. 25 at 1 p.m.
