On Friday in Muncie, Indiana, Ohio’s goal of making the Mid-American Conference Tournament got tougher as it fell in to Ball State 2-1 in overtime. The final score may indicate that the match was a defensive slugfest. However, Ohio was simply on the wrong side of the final score and was otherwise dominant in the match.
Here are some numbers to know from Ohio’s 2-1 loss Friday:
11
The Bobcats were only able to find the net once, but that was not for a lack of opportunities. Their 11 shots on goal doubled the total for the Cardinals, which was five. Regardless, the number of shots on goal are not helpful if a team cannot make them count. The Bobcats were held without a shot on goal during the overtime period. Moreover, it becomes increasingly difficult to score goals without putting a shot on net.
3
The time is ticking for Ohio to find its groove in conference play. Other than a win against Longwood, there has been little ability for Ohio to finish matches, leading to its 1-3 conference record.
However, there is still hope for Ohio. Although the likelihood of Ohio going unbeaten to end the season might not seem strong, it is not impossible. Ohio plays a very winnable match against Central Michigan before two tricky matches against Bellarmine and Appalachian State. Ohio must win all three of those matches in order to secure its spot in the MAC Tournament. It is still possible to clinch a playoff berth with only three wins, but the tiebreakers would not favor Ohio in those scenarios.
5
In her last three matches, defender Meela Kopp has recorded five points. While that number might not jump off the page, she has recently been one of the main options coming off penalty corners. Kopp has turned into a true offensive threat while anchoring a defense that has impressed thus far. If the Bobcats want to continue to strive for greatness this season, the efforts on both sides of the ball will be paramount from Kopp.
