Stephanie Rowland could be a cornerstone for the Bobcats in the future.
The Bobcats had many setbacks this season. One of the bright spots, though, was Stephanie Rowland.
This past Thursday, Rowland was named to the Mid-American Conference All-Freshman team.
She was the first freshman to claim the accolade since 2013 when teammate and junior Alexis Milesky was honored.
Rowland, from Pewee Valley, Kentucky, came to Ohio as no stranger to the score sheet. She scored 119 goals during her high school career.
“Stephanie is a very dynamic player,” coach Aaron Rodgers said in late September. “She is able to penetrate on the dribble everywhere and that can scare defending teams.”
Rowland became the talisman of the Bobcats attack, leading the team with five goals after she became Ohio's right winger in Rodgers' new 4-3-3 formation.
Her speed and tenacity makes her the perfect fit for the right side of the field, as she can cut inside from the flanks.
“I really wasn’t worried about it (playtime),” Rowland said in September. “I just knew if I did my job, it would come.”
Now that Rowland has started to establish herself, it's a foundation to grow from moving forward.
“My whole life, I’ve always wanted to play D-I soccer,” she said. “So I always would just push myself knowing the best is coming.”
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