If one-goal losses were worth money, the Ohio soccer team would be rich.
The Bobcats suffered two overtime 2-1 losses this weekend, at Central Michigan Friday and at Eastern Michigan yesterday. Ohio has now lost five games, all by one goal, in its last six.
Nevertheless, the Bobcats (4-9-1 overall, 2-5-1 Mid-American Conference) are still optimistic, midfielder Kendra Hornschemeier said.
I don't feel too down
because we played well (this weekend) and I know we're bound to win she said. I'm not discouraged and I don't think the team is discouraged.
Hornschemeier contributed a goal and an assist in the two games. Her feeder yesterday to forward Christel Schiering tied the game in the second half before Eastern Michigan forward/midfielder Cyndi Mullins scored in the fourth minute of overtime.
On Friday, Ohio scored early when Hornschemeier put the ball in the goal off a pass from forward Tiffany Horvath. Central Michigan (6-5-2, 4-4-1 MAC) evened the score in the second half and then quickly downed the Bobcats in overtime. Chippewa midfielder Cari VanDyck scored the unassisted game-winner just more than a minute into the extra period.
Ohio coach Stacy Strauss said the Bobcats played well in both games, despite the outcomes.
They were two of our best performances on the year
she said. We were much more organized in back
we fought and we were physical. I'm pretty pleased with how we played
just not the results.
The Bobcats were picked by MAC coaches before the season to win the conference. The chances of that were becoming steadily slimmer until yesterday, when the loss to Eastern Michigan (7-5-3, 6-0-2 MAC) officially ended that possibility. Ohio stands 18 points behind first-place Kent State with four conference games remaining.
Now, the Bobcats must fight to clinch one of the eight spots in the MAC tournament. Ohio is five points behind eighth-place Akron. Ohio back Jennifer Wright said the Bobcats know what they must do.
We're just going to keep on doing what we've been doing
she said. We play Ball State and Miami and they're two of our biggest rivals
so we're excited to play them and we're excited to play at home.
Ohio plays host for its final four MAC games beginning at 4 p.m. Friday against Miami. The Bobcats then faces Ball State at 1 p.m. Sunday. Both games are at Chessa Field.
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