Miami University
Central Michigan
RedHawks Caught Off Guard by Chippewas, 3-2
10/10/2008 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Oct. 10, 2008
OXFORD, Ohio - A Central Michigan goal in the second minute of the game set the tone for a 3-2 loss for the Miami University field hockey team on Friday afternoon at the Miami Turf Field.
While outshooting the Chippewas, 19-8, and earning 10 penalty corner to the visitors' one, the RedHawks were caught on their heels by CMU, falling behind 3-0 just minutes into the second half.
Katie Brightwell and Courtney Fretz would tally goals for the Red and White in the 48th and 67th minute, respectively, to make things interesting, but six saves by CMU keeper Melinda Curran sealed the win for the Chips.
"We were not really ready to play," said Miami head coach Jill Reeve. "You find yourself down a goal and, no matter how hard we pushed, we were always down a goal. We were not firing on all cylinders today."
Katie Brightwell's unassisted goal, coupled with Fretz's late goal off an assist from Christine Brightwell, seemed to frustrate the RedHawks more, by showing the team just what they are capable of.
"It was a team effort," said Katie Brightwell of her goal. "If we all push hard toward the goal, we are going to score. We just stayed on the ball and just kept hammering until we got it in. I think our team just did not come out and give it our all. We need our entire team out there the entire game, and we just did not have that."
Freshman Abbey Huck totaled three saves in cage for Miami and is now 7-4 on the season.
While the road to a regular-season championship is much more complicated now, the RedHawks will continue toward that goal on Sunday, when they travel to Ball State for a 1 p.m. game against the Cardinals.
"We are going to have to play perfectly if we are going to wind up in the top two spots," ended Reeve.
