In a season full of missed opportunities and failed potential, Ohio suffered another setback during the stretch run of the Mid-American Conference schedule.
Central Michigan defeated Ohio 2-1 in overtime Friday, dropping the Bobcats’ record to 2-2 in the conference and making it imperative to win against Miami if Ohio wants to control its own destiny and qualify for the MAC tournament.
For coach Neil Macmillan, the loss to the Chippewas was a microcosm of the entire season, which has been filled with close games that he feels they should have won.
“We certainly outplayed them,” Macmillan said. “It’s gotten to that point where that doesn’t really matter anymore because we have to find a way to win the games. And whether you play well or badly doesn’t mean you’re going to win the games.”
And the loss isn’t felt solely in the win and loss columns. Macmillan feels that the large number of games that didn’t go his team’s way meant much more.
“I wanted the seniors going out on a high, having won the regular season (MAC title),” he said. “And it’s not only the seniors. It’s everyone here. I wanted it for everyone, from the seniors to the freshman class. They should have been introduced to what Ohio field hockey is all about, and that’s winning within the MAC.”
The game itself was a closely contested affair, displaying the equality of two teams that were tied atop the conference entering the day’s action.
Central Michigan fired the first salvo midway through the second half as Chippewa junior forward Bailey McKeon won a battle for the ball in front of the net and pushed it past Ohio sophomore goalkeeper Brittany Walker.
It took Ohio four minutes to deliver the equalizer, as sophomore Kristine Gegas received the pass from senior Laura Mastro and tapped it in for her first goal as a Bobcat.
The game remained tied up until overtime, when Central Michigan capitalized on an early overtime corner as sophomore Jordyn Brengosz scored the game-winner.
Though the team felt like it played a good game and that some opportunities didn’t go its way, there was still a major feeling of disappointment after the game.
“Our whole team was not in a very good mood after the game,” senior Marissa Higgins said. “I think they were a very good team, but not good enough to beat us.”
The team, like Macmillan, was disappointed in the missed opportunities and the inability to score when it really counted. Higgins said they know they’re better than what their record would say.
“It gets really hard,” she said. “It just stinks because you know how good you are and you’re not stepping up and showing what you’re capable of doing.”
ch203310@ohiou.edu
