MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – The 2024 Bellarmine field hockey season opened with a game against Central Michigan back on August 31. The same two teams will square up this Friday at 1 p.m. ET at Cristy Freese Field as the Knights face their only repeat opponent during the regular season.
 
About Central Michigan
The Chippewas enter Friday's game at 3-7 overall and 0-3 in the MAC. Their campaign began with a 3-1 start that included a 2-1 overtime win over the Knights in the opener, but at this point they are riding a six-game skid and have not won since a 3-2 neutral-site victory over Hofstra on September 7. Following competitive losses to Maine and Colgate, CMU suffered an 11-0 defeat at the hands of No. 10 Michigan in Ann Arbor. The 11 goals by the Wolverines were the most scored by any team this season. The Chippewas then opened MAC play by suffering three straight one-goal defeats versus Longwood (2-1), at James Madison (3-2) and to Appalachian State (2-1) in Charlotte in a game that, like the Knights' game with ASU, was moved locations due to the damaging floods caused by Hurricane Helene.
 
Junior forward Mallory Camryn has been the star on offense for CMU, leading the team with seven goals and 16 points. She has taken 30 shots, double the number of the player with the second-highest total on the team, and is tied for the team lead with two assists. On defense, sophomore back Klara Mikulaskova has started all 10 games and made a pair of defensive saves. In the cage, the Chippewas have split time between senior Coletta Beeler (four starts, 294 minutes) and freshman Jenna Billig (six starts, 323 minutes). Beeler has posted the superior save percentage at .758 to Billig's .571, though CMU is 0-4 in games started by Beller.
 
Boisvert on the Chippewas
"We are looking forward to another opportunity to face Central Michigan this season and compete in another MAC matchup. CMU has had a strong year and has proven to be a tough opponent against some of the top teams in the conference. Our team has been battling hard, and we are focused on continuing to improve our style of play. Although our results have been on the other end, our goal of finishing as a top-six team in the MAC is still within reach and this team is capable and determined to earn a spot." –Head coach Devanny Boisvert
 
Last Week
Bellarmine went 0-2 on their trip to North Carolina. The Knights first dropped a 2-1 decision at Davidson on Sunday. The Knights tied the game at 1-1 on a fourth-quarter goal by freshman Sammie Callaghan, the first of her career, but the Wildcats were able to send in the game-winner less than five minutes later. Davidson held the edge in penalty corners, 5-4. Against Appalachian State on Monday in a game that was relocated to the campus of Davidson following flooding in Boone caused by Hurricane Helene, the Knights did not manage a shot in a 3-0 loss. App State fired 28 shots, 17 on goal, while the Knights were unable to record a shot. The Mountaineers also held a 11-0 advantage on penalty corners. With the loss, the Knights fell to 2-7 and 0-2 in MAC play.
 
Work the Metal
Junior keeper Kailey Workman recorded a career-high 14 saves Monday against Appalachian State. The Ontario native is averaging 6.89 saves per game, good for 13th in Division I, and has posted a .705 save percentage through the season's first nine games.
 
Sokal Living
Defender Skylar Sokal has three defensive saves to her name in 2024, which leads the MAC and is tied for fourth in Division I. The redshirt freshman is currently the only player in the MAC this season with multiple defensive saves in the same game, contributing a pair against Davidson this past Sunday.
 
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