The Ohio soccer team closes its home season today with a non-conference game against Robert Morris.
After two weeks of pressure-filled Mid-American Conference games, the Bobcats (8-9-1 overall, 6-5-1 MAC) have the opportunity to catch their breath before beginning the MAC Tournament next week. But coach Stacy Strauss said that does not mean the Bobcats will relax against the Colonials.
Being that this will truly be our last home game for our seniors
they're going to have a ton of motivation for that reason she said. But it will also be a great experience for us to use it as a preparation for the conference tournament to freshen up some of the things we've been working on and also be able to go to our depths a bit more than we would to make sure they're getting some experience.
Robert Morris (2-15) is a young team that has gone winless after a 2-1 start. Just three of the Colonials are seniors, and the team's leading scorers are both freshmen. Forward Hilary Nellis leads the Colonials with three goals this season, and forward Christina Pilato leads the team in points with two goals and two assists.
The MAC has left this weekend open in an effort to allow teams to schedule Big Ten opponents, which also have an open weekend at the end of the season, Strauss said. The plan has not gone quite as intended, however. Just three MAC teams face Big Ten foes this weekend.
Despite playing the last-place team from the Northeast Conference, Ohio will play as hard it has in recent weeks, said forward/midfielder Kelly Prandi.
We're going to treat it like any other game
she said. We're going to come out and play our best. It's just another game to get us ready for the tournament. I don't think we'll change anything. We'll just keep playing hard. We're looking for the win.
Nevertheless, Ohio's conference tournament quarterfinal match at Kent State (11-4-3, 8-2-2 MAC) next week looms. Strauss drew new sidelines with cones on Chessa Field during Ohio's practice Wednesday to reflect Kent State's small field.
Midfielder Natalie Grein said, however, that the Bobcats are focusing on their own play rather than that of the Golden Flashes, who beat the Bobcats, 2-0, on Sept. 14th and finished as regular-season co-champions in the MAC.
People know that this is an important time and that we need to keep playing the way we've been playing and keep improving
she said. We're not going to win the tournament if we don't.
Before Ohio takes its shot at the conference tournament, it makes its last stand at home at 3 p.m today against Robert Morris at Chessa Field.
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Joe Rominiecki
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Senior Tanja Konijn looks for an open teammate as she beats a Ball State defender last Saturday at Pruit Field. The Bobcats are on the road this weekend against Louisville and Miami.
