With Mid-American Conference play a week away, the Ohio Bobcats soccer team will take on Youngstown State for its last non-conference test of the season.
The team is riding a four-game winning streak. The Bobcats have not won four games in a row since the 2004 season.
In Ohio’s last two weekend games, they were dominant in possession but failed to convert many scoring chances. During the course of the weekend, the Bobcats outshot their opponents 39-16.
Ohio coach Stacy Strauss said even though the team could potentially have a five-game winning streak after this weekend, the team’s mindset remains the same.
“We still are very focused on trying to improve,” Strauss said. “Specifically finishing more of our chances, I think we’re far from being satisfied and still trying to get better each day.”
Strauss said the team has spent the week of practice on converting chances. She said with practice, the offense will start to cash in on their opportunities.
“As players get more comfortable and the more they see certain situations in training, then the better their chances are at finishing them,” Strauss said.
Youngstown State enters the contest with a 4-1 record on the year. Their lone loss of the season came against Niagara in overtime, who Ohio defeated 1-0 last Friday.
The Penguins are led by junior forward Rachel Morrison. She has three goals this season and all six of her shots on the season have been on goal. Ohio last met the Penguins in 1998, winning 6-0. The Bobcats lead the series against the Penguins 2-0.
Ohio senior forward Veronica Rock said that the team is focused on increasing their shots on goal as opposed to just shots.
“Right now, we’ve been creating opportunities for ourselves, in the attacking third more than we have been in a long time,” Rock said. “I think that’s been our most consistent factor in our last couple games, that we are creating chances at this point. What we’re trying to do now is just finish those chances.”
Rock said this game against Youngstown State would give the team an opportunity to put the finishing touches on their game before MAC play.
“I think that’s what we’re looking for most as it’s our last opportunity to figure out the things we need on the field before it actually means something in the MAC,” she said.
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Ohio (4-3) vs. Youngstown State (4-1)
4 p.m. Friday, Chessa Field
