As Ohio (16-4) skated onto the ice Friday in Bird Arena, clad in camo jerseys with black and brown detailing, it was clear a tough match was ahead. Niagara (15-11-3) entered the rink looking for a win against one of its rivals. The Bobcats had to push hard to fight through the Purple Eagles’ brutish defense and take home a tight 4-3 win.
“I thought (Niagara) defended well,” Ohio coach Barry Schutte said. "We had some quality chances, but there wasn't a lot of second and third opportunities around the other team’s net. I think we can get a little hungry around their net because we were there, but they did a pretty good job. They really played connected as a unit.”
Several parts of the Niagara team helped stave off Ohio’s characteristically dynamic offense. The Eagles’ goalie made several impressive stops, and their defensemen pounced on any slight errors by the Bobcats in the first two periods. However, it wouldn’t be enough for Ohio’s explosive late-game performance.
“I thought we broke the puck out pretty well for the most part,” Schutte said. “I didn't love our play at the offensive blue line entering the zone half a dozen times or so. I thought we gave them momentum at times when we didn't need to. We could have managed that. But I'd like to see that hunger that we saw in the third period for 60 minutes (Saturday).”
Luckily for the hundreds of Ohio fans attending, the team delivered in the end. Entering overtime with a 3-3 score displayed overhead, the Bobcats needed to shake off any bad energy they had felt during regulation. Luckily for them, senior Luc Reeve did just that, slamming home the final goal and putting Niagara’s stonewall defense to rest.
Reeve’s game-defining moment was emblematic of how the Bobcats had to overcome a highly physical defense: with more physicality.
“That last goal, I waited for him to try to take me one-on-one physically,“ Reeve said. "And then as soon as he pushed me, I pushed off of him, got my breakaway and scored. So I think just kind of pushing, feeding into it, not stopping your feet, and then being physical back.”
Despite a slow start and occasional slip-ups, Ohio still played a strong game. Facing a strong Niagara defensive effort and powering through it is a sign of what’s to come in the remaining matches of the 2024-25 season.
“I think we were the better team today,” Reeve said. “We had way more shots, way more goal opportunities, way more puck possession, especially in their zone. I think it's mainly those bounces, and I think we don't beat ourselves up. We just kind of take it as what we thought it was and keep going with it tomorrow.”
