After a thrilling 3-1 win against Bowling Green to kick off Mid-American Conference play Friday, the Bobcats were unable to replicate their performance Sunday, as they lost 2-1 to Central Michigan at Chessa Field.
From the start, Ohio (5-2-3, 1-0-1 MAC) struggled to produce any sort of offensive threat against the Chippewas (2-7-1, 2-0-0 MAC) and almost allowed a goal just one minute into the match, but a low shot was pushed out for a corner by senior goalie Mattie Liston.
“Give credit to Central Michigan,” coach Aaron Rodgers said. “They were a good team. We struggled to keep up with the pace of the game.”
Rodgers stressed that the Chippewas were a much better team than their record showed, as a tough non-conference schedule hid their talents.
The Bobcats had the opportunity to take the lead in the 15th minute when a clumsy tackle in the box from the Chippewas gave Ohio a penalty kick. Junior Tonya Frasik stepped up to attempt the shot, only for it to line drive right into the arms of sophomore Maddy Bunnell.
Ohio opened the scoring in the 20th minute when freshman Alexis Milesky placed the ball right to the feet of junior Liz Finley, who tapped it into the net for a Bobcat goal.
Central Michigan quickly responded in the 22nd minute with a strike in the box from sophomore Kaelyn Korte, off a pass from junior Lauren Grosse, before the Chippewas then scored the final goal of the game in the 35th minute. Junior Emily Cooksey scored an incredible 20-yard volley that dipped just under the crossbar, catching Liston off her line.
Despite opportunities for both teams, neither was able to score in the second half.
“It was a good learning experience for us,” Rodgers said. “That’s what we have to take away from it.”
The loss Sunday now places Ohio in second place in the MAC East Division, just behind Kent State, as the standings are based on overall record.
The Bobcats will be off until Friday, when they will begin a four-game road trip that begins on the road against Miami.
gh181212@ohiou.edu
@charliehatch_
