With conference play underway, Ohio had hoped to be playing in fifth gear. Instead, the team found itself in neutral.
The Bobcats split a pair of Mid-American Conference matches in what coach Stacy Strauss described as a step-forward-step-backward weekend.
On Friday, Ohio took home a win against Eastern Michigan as midfielder Cat Rogers fired a 30-yard missile into the net en route to a 1-0 decision. The game was the Bobcats’ second straight win and shutout for goalkeeper Mattie Liston.
“Our game plan was to shoot as much as possible, but we weren’t happy with the amount of shots we were getting in the first half,” Rogers said. “I got there and saw it and just said, ‘Shoot it,’ and thank goodness it went in.”
The game saw Sara Seitz return from injury, which proved beneficial for the Bobcats. The game was deadlocked for 70 minutes, leading Strauss to make a formation adjustment.
“We didn’t lose our composure even in the late going. We were a bit more composed on the ball in the first half than in the second,” Strauss said. “Then we were just patient and tried to find the opportunity. Cat had a great shot.”
Winning the MAC opener was a nice change of pace from previous years, Rogers said.
“I think starting off MAC play like this is huge,” she said. “It’s something that I haven’t done since I’ve been here. We haven’t come in and won the first game, so now we got one down.”
The Bobcats took on Central Michigan Sunday but did not see the same result. Ohio went down early in the first half and never recovered, ending the game at 3-0 — the second game this season in which the Bobcats have been shut out and lost by three.
“A lot of things were off today. I thought, even in the late going, our effort was lacking, and so I questioned the players’ pride a little bit after the game,” Strauss said. “We’re far better than the way we played today.”
Senior Kelsey Pichel led the attack for the Bobcats, getting a total of six shots during the game.
“I think we came out flat and didn’t really come out with a lot of urgency in the beginning,” Pichel said. “Once we got down, we never really got the momentum back up. It kind of hurts to get down so early.”
Ohio struggled across the field. Strauss pulled Liston with 20 minutes left, marking the first time she has been pulled in her two years with the Bobcats. Strauss replaced Liston with freshman Nicole Amari, but that did not stop the bleeding for the ’Cats as Central Michigan scored again.
“We didn’t show the resolve in the late going that we did against Eastern Michigan,” Strauss said. “Hard work is hard work, and that was something we talked to the players about after the game.
“There is no excuse for not working hard for a full 90 minutes.”
mb832409@ohiou.edu
