CollegeLAX Player of the Week (4/20/09)
By Will Freihofer
Central Michigan goalie Casey Beinlich has been selected as the latest CollegeLAX Player of the Week following a string of strong performances in the Chippewa crease. Posting over 20 saves in consecutive wins over Boston College, Boston University and Eastern Michigan University, Beinlich continued to impress in CMU’s recent 12-5 loss to #14 Michigan State, according to Head Coach Brad Thomas.
Beinlich, now in his senior season and serving as the club’s president, has contributed on the field for the Chippewas by both scoring goals and preventing them during his time with the team.
“He started (at goalie) as a freshman, and then when he was a sophomore we had another goalie transfer in that was a senior,” said Thomas. Rather than have the two split time and leave valuable athleticism on the bench, Thomas said the team opted to use Beinlich as an attackman for his second season on the team before spending the last two years back between the pipes.
Playing on the offensive side of the field has lent Beinlich valuable insight into the attackmen he now faces, he said. “It helps with anticipating what they’re going to do,” said Beinlich. Despite flipping positions, Beinlich still has at least one thing in common with most offensive minded players: He wants the ball in his stick.
“I love getting the ball and making a clearing pass to someone in the middle of the of the field, trying to hit them in stride,” said Beinlich. Coach Thomas credited his keeper’s ability to trap rebounds and find open teammates as keys to his success at the goalie position.
“He lets the game come to him and doesn’t try to force anything,” said Thomas. “He does a great job talking and he rarely gives up a rebound – which is huge,” he said. “They take a shot, it’s one and done, and he clears the ball at a very effective rate.”
Anchoring a Chippewa defense that allowed under six goals a game during their recent stint on the east coast, Beinlich had a major role in the teams’ victories over 3 PCLL opponents. Though falling short of an upset Thursday at Michigan State, the team is hoping strong defensive play will help carry them through the upcoming CCLA tournament this May.
“They’re really hitting their stride and that’s keeping us in a lot of games,” said Thomas.
For his selection as a CollegeLAX Player of the Week, Casey will receive a prize pack from CollegeLAX. Be sure to check back next week to see who wins the next CollegeLAX Player of the Week Award and contact CollegeLAX to nominate a deserving MCLA player for next week’s honors.
