It is a harsh reality when a season ends, and for the Bobcats, reality couldn’t have hit much harder.
Ohio took on No. 1 seed Toledo in the quarterfinal of the Mid-American Conference tournament and lost 8-0. It was the largest margin of defeat in program history and also marked the first time the team has allowed eight goals in a game.
“Everything went right for Toledo today,” coach Stacy Strauss said in a statement. “We took a gamble and played a more attacking style, and although it produced more shots on goal than we’ve had in almost every other game this season, we failed to finish them.”
Toledo scored on eight of its 10 shots on goal while the Bobcats registered five shots on net. Goalkeeper Mattie Liston, who had been injured, returned for the full game against Toledo but found herself picking the ball out of the net more often than keeping it out. Liston registered two saves on the day.
Ohio lost four starters late in the season against Miami and Bowling Green, including Liston, senior Sara Seitz, junior Paige Howard and senior Kim Nordtveit. Only Liston returned later in the season,
The Bobcats only won once in their final eight games. On Oct. 7, Ohio met Toledo but lost 2-0. Toledo moves on to the MAC semifinals against Buffalo.
The Bobcats wrap up the season 7-11-2 and 4-5-2 during MAC play. Ohio will lose eight seniors, and redshirt juniors Remi Famodu and Ainsley Bodi have the option to return for their final year.
oledo finished 9-1-1 in the conference with the help of defender Natalia Gaitan who was a co-captain for Columbia during the Women’s World Cup last summer. Ohio will return next fall in pursuit of another MAC championship with veteran players Liston, Cat Rogers, Erin Schwenke and Paige Howard all returning.
QUICKSTATS
MAC Quarterfinal
Toledo 8, OHIO 0
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Toledo scored on eight of its 10 shots.
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Toledo advances to face Buffalo.
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Ohio will lose eight seniors this offseason.
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