Chippewas earn first shutout of the year in draw
Senior goalkeeper Jadia Kershaw earned her the shutout with seven saves
Central Michigan University sophomore midfielder Kylee Weed and junior midfielder Grace Cameron hold hands and pray before the game at the soccer game at the Soccer/Lacrosse Complex, on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026. Cameron played the full 90 minutes of the game against Buffalo. (CM-Life | Jasmine Brookins)
Early in the match, the ball came crashing down from the sky. Central Michigan soccer's senior goalkeeper Jadia Kershaw rose to catch it. As the ball came into Kershaw’s hands, a Miami (OH) forward did too. The collision sent the ball into the net, and Redhawk players and parents cheered.
However, officials reversed the goal after review.
This was the closest either team got to a goal as CMU women’s soccer team drew with Miami (OH), 0-0. For the Chippewas, the result was their second straight tie, moving the Chippewas to 2-7-3 on the season and 0-3-2 in conference play.
“We've had games where we've got goals. We've now got a game where we didn't,” CMU Head Coach James Decosemo said. “We've got to be able to marry those two things together.”
Although just a draw, Kershaw earned her first shutout of the season with seven saves from eight shots on goal from the Redhawks. She said she owed the credit to her team, as the last one shot she didn’t save was from an unusual player in an unusual way.
"Olivia [Bretz], who was playing forward, she used to be a defender,” Kershaw said. “She came all the way back, and I guess I punched her in the head, because she was trying to clear the ball just as much as me.”
In addition to the colliding teamwork, throughout the second half, the Chippewa defenders and goalkeeper communicated with loudly. But to Kershaw, this was how the team focuses and compartmentalizes.
“I’ve kind of always been like that, but they know as soon as we get off the field, we're best friends again,” she said. “They yelled at each other to a lot, and they yelled at me too, when I do stuff. So, it's just all together, we work to make sure everyone's in the right spots.”
Despite the defense holding together throughout the game, the attack had just four shots on target. Overall, the Chippewas have scored just two goals in their five conference games, both in the last game against Ohio. However, Decosemo said the game showed the progress the team has made this year.
“A couple of weeks ago, we probably lose that game 1-0,” he said.
Decosemo said for the Chippewas to win in the conference, it will take some luck but also making shots when the chances are good.
“We just got to keep doing what we're doing here,” he said. “I think we took another step forward and we’ll focus on the positives and get to the next game.”
The Chippewas will face the Toledo Rockets next, on Friday, Oct. 9 at Paul Hotmer Field in Toledo, Ohio.
