Ohio conquered the city of brotherly love this weekend, topping both St. Joseph’s and Temple to advance its record to 5-0.
Several Ohio players are native to the region, and the local connection was a nice advantage for the Bobcats.
“It was a great atmosphere,” coach Neil Macmillan said. “It was really exciting to see the crowd. We probably had more fans than the opposition we played both days out there.”
On Saturday, Ohio supporters saw their team clobber St. Joseph’s 7-2. A day later, the Bobcats sneaked past Temple 2-0.
Junior Cathryn Altdoerffer and senior Brooke Edwards, both Pennsylvania natives, scored twice each against the Hawks. Juniors Laura Mastro, Taylor Brown and Marissa Higgins also added goals.
The tallies in Sunday’s game came from Altdoerffer again and fifth-year senior and captain Louzeth Schutte.
Macmillan said the Bobcats have shown selflessness through a willingness to pass, leading to success in the early part of their season.
“We’re really setting each other up,” Macmillan said. “We’re seeing what the best options are and taking them.”
The assists are, in some part, due to the level of team chemistry the group enjoys.
Conference play does not begin for several weeks, but it already appears as if Ohio’s players are comfortable working together.
Schutte, who assisted on Altdoerffer’s goal vs. Temple, said the Bobcats are an unselfish bunch.
“I think we’re clicking so far,” said Schutte, who has scored two goals and tallied four assists in Ohio’s five wins this season.
One of those assists came against No. 6 Ohio State Aug. 31. The Bobcats won 2-1.
Facing a program that attracts the majority of in-state talent, the Bobcats pulled off the win thanks to their defense. The Buckeyes recorded as many shots (two) as Ohio had goals.
“It wasn’t just the game, it wasn’t just the win,” Macmillan said. “It was the way we did it that really stood out to me.
“I never was worried in that game. … I was very, very confident in what the team was doing, and (it) did a great job moving the ball around and stopping Ohio State from getting any flow going.”
If the Bobcats keep winning, it will not be long before they are included in the top 20 in the rankings. The poll was last updated Aug. 23, when Ohio was only 2-0, and even then the team received votes.
“If the rankings come out and we’re ranked, that’s awesome,” Schutte said. “But obviously that’s not our main focus.
“That’d be a bonus.”
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