Ending his nonconference schedule with a 2-1 home loss to Xavier was not what coach Aaron Rodgers wanted Friday, but there were things learned that Ohio can apply to its conference play starting at Bowling Green next week.
Here are the three takeaways from Ohio's game against the Musketeers.
Close doesn't cut it
This Ohio team is different from past teams in that it is incredibly competitive from start to finish. Each game that the Bobcats have lost this season has been by one goal, with four of their seven games ending with one 2-1 win and three losses by the same scoreline.
The games follow a predictable pace: the opposing team scores first, Ohio immediately looks as though it's woken up and heaps a ton of pressure on the opponent, the Bobcats equalize, then they concede deep in the second half and the opponent bunkers in for the win.
Rodgers acknowledged as much, saying that his team has to take advantage of the chances its presented with throughout the game and not wait until it concedes to play to its fullest.
"I mean unfortunately it’s kind of been a trend since I’ve been here," Rodgers said. "We’ve played some difficult teams and we’ve competed but we’re just not quite getting the results so it’s something that we’re going to have to mentally work on as well as working with a little more urgency."
Urgency wanted
Speaking of urgency, another aspect of the game that Rodgers emphasized was his teams' effort and energy. It's easy to be a bit lethargic under the mid-September heat but being second to balls and slow to initiate the offense is something the Bobcats must improve on in conference play.
"We’re continuing to find ourselves in the same situation where we’re right at the door — and we’re not even knocking, it’s halfway open — but we’re just having a hard time walking through," Rodgers said. "The door’s halfway open, we’ve played some difficult teams and we’ve competed but we’re just not quite getting the results so it’s something that we’re going to have to mentally work on."
Does Hueber experiment needs readjustment?
It can occasionally feel like Bryce Hueber is between two identities. She typically starts in the midfield, collecting balls from the back and using her height and guile to sneak balls into the final third.
But her ability to control the ball in tight areas and then nod them down or play them on for her faster teammates to run onto remains one of her best qualities. Rodgers has shown a preference to play a faster front three while Hueber, Mollie Whitacre and Alivia Milesky — who had an incredible, curled ball that she played from nearly center field for Ohio's goal — put balls in for quick forwards.
The results are typically Alexis Milesky, Remi Eades or Sydney Leckie making incisive runs but resulting in mishit shots or a cross or through ball having a bit too much on it. Having Hueber up top as a false nine to knock down those long balls in the box for Ohio's forwards to feast on might be a tactic the Bobcats look at going into conference play.
No matter what they do, Rodgers knows his team can't keep playing from behind or not taking advantage of chances. Doing so in the nonconference schedule when only momentum is on the line is one thing.
Doing it with conference standing and the potential for postseason play for the first time since Rodgers' first year is another.
