MOUNT PLEASANT – Sophomore forward Laura Gosse scored her second goal in as many matches as the Central Michigan women's soccer team took 12 shots on goal and allowed just one in a 1-0 win over Ohio on Sunday afternoon at the CMU Soccer Complex.
The Chippewas (6-3-1, 2-0-0 MAC) extended their home unbeaten streak to 36 matches, having gone 32-0-4 since their last home loss in 2008, and snapped Ohio's (6-4-0, 1-1-0 MAC) six-match winning streak.
Though the offense created plenty of scoring chances with 24 total shots and 12 shots on target, the Chippewas couldn't quite find their second goal of the match, the defense made sure the one goal was enough. Defenders Bailey Brandon, Katie Slaughter and Estee Outcalt all played the full 90 minutes for a back line that surrendered just one shot on goal and six total shots, and senior goalkeeper Stefanie Turner recorded her fourth shutout of the season, and the fifth for CMU overall.
Gosse scored an early goal for the second consecutive match in the fourth minute on a breakaway down the right side of the field, firing a shot from 30 yards out that the Ohio keeper initially saved, but allowed to slip past into the goal for what ultimately became the game-winning goal.
The Chippewas kept up the offensive pressure early, with five shots – three on goal – in the first ten minutes of action.
Junior midfielder Kaely Schlosser nearly found the back of the net twice within a three minute span when a shot fired from in front of goal ricocheted off the crossbar in the 17th minute, and another glanced off the near post on a shot from 20 yards out on the near side in the 19th minute.
Senior midfielder Ashley Mejilla also had two headers that were saved by the Ohio keeper as part of a 14-shot first half.
Ohio came out pushing possession in the second half, with three shots by Cat Rogers within the first ten minutes of play.
Brandon nearly gave the Chippewas a two-goal advantage in the 66th minute when her header looped over the keeper's head, but ultimately was just a touch too strong to find its way into goal.
Mejilla finished with four shots on goal, while Gosse and junior forward Jennifer Gassman each took two. Five Chippewas finished with three or more shots on the day.
Central Michigan hits the road again this weekend to continue MAC play as it travels to rival Western Michigan Friday for a 4 p.m. match and Eastern Michigan Sunday for a 1 p.m. contest.
