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Chippewas snap three-game streak

Alex Butler

Head Coach Bobby Kramig brought his women's soccer team into Mt. Pleasant, Mich., with all of his players in pleasant spirits because of the three-game winning streak they were burning on. But Sunday, his Miami University RedHawks (7-5-1, 3-2-1 Mid-American Conference) faced off against the Central Michigan University Chippewas (11-3-0, 6-0-0 MAC), who doused the hot 'Hawks 1-0.

"I think that we are in pretty high spirits for the outcome of the game," forward Jodi Zwingelberg said. "We know that they are No. 1 right now and we know that we can take them, and we are prepared when we meet them again later down the road. We just need to keep our heads in the game and play the way we know how to play."

The loss put a blue note on a very successful stretch for Coach Kramig's squad.

"Outside of today's result I think we've been playing pretty well recently," Kramig said. "I'm pleased with that, I have to say. Obviously there are things that we still have to work on and get better at, but I think we are making progress and we will continue to go through as the season goes on. Hopefully we get another string of good results here."

The Red and White had their fleet feet challenged by not only Chippewas, but also soggy field conditions. The combination of the MAC leading opponent and a lack of offensive opportunity ended the longest winning streak of the season for the RedHawks.

"I didn't think it was a very good game for either team," Kramig said. "It wasn't a particularly interesting or entertaining game. It was kind of a game where neither side could really get going. I wasn't very impressed with either team."

Sophomore Alexandra Karlsson tested the Chippewas keeper first but misfired. Junior Sara Lund tried to force the matter several other times but just couldn't find net.

Both sides divvied up the opportunities but it was the Chippewas who found success. The vital CMU score came when Amanda Waugh made the delivery to the boot of Chelsi Abbott who beat keeper Krista Pace. Pace ended the contest with eight saves.

Lund came back firing midway through the half but the Chippewa keeper - Shay Mannino - would not budge, gaining the shutout for her team who has not allowed a goal in a MAC contest.

Zwingelberg had one rip in the contest, after netting her first goal of the season Friday.

"We played really hard," Zwingelberg said. "Sunday games are always harder than Friday games. The field was really beat up from the weekend. It was a little bit of a struggle for the playing surfaces but we played hard and we fought hard. They had one good chance and were able to score on that."

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The Red and White face off in the MAC again with the University of Akron Zips at 7:30 p.m. Friday in Akron.