When Marshall goalkeeper Megan Bonelli charged out of her box in the 83rd minute of Friday's game and slammed into an Ohio attacker, the impending decision by the referee was going to change the game for whoever was afforded the call.
So when the referee showed Bonelli a red card and ordered her off, Chessa Field exploded into cheers, applause and an exuberant chorus of vuvuzelas.
The Bobcats had refused to give up during the game — they went down by a goal twice and fought back with smart buildup play — and it was that fight that saw them tie Marshall 2-2 in double overtime.
It didn't start that way, however, as Ohio fans feared the worst when senior forward Alexis Milesky slogged off injured early in the first half.
"In losing her we were a little bit disappointed at first so you know it’s hard because she’s such a great player," Courtney Daugerdas, who scored both Ohio goals, said. "But I think all of us, at least the forwards and midfielders and everyone knew we had to step it up and work hard. And I think because of that, and she gave us encouragement from the sideline as well, and because of that we scored, we got things tied up."
With an injury to Vanessa Cordoba, the Bobcats could hardly afford to lose another veteran leader in the team.
Luckily, coach Aaron Rodgers had afforded for this with the glut of attacking talent that he had hauled in over the offseason with seven new freshman and junior-transfer Bryce Hueber. And it was those players that had the biggest impact on the game.
"It was phenomenal," Rodgers said of Daugerdas' play. "We know what she brings. She brings so much energy and she just has such a big heart and she’ll run through a brick wall and she’s just like Lexi. She’s like Lexi was three years ago as a freshman."
Both goals, the first in the 28th minute and the second in the 79th minute, came as a result of Ohio's smart buildup play and intricate passing between Marshall's lines.
Sydney Leckie, along with freshman Remi Eades and Daugerdas were able to use their pace to break past a slower Thundering Herd defensive line and create a good deal of chances in Marshall's box. Despite the injury to Milesky, who sustained a slight injury that will likely keep her out Sunday, the Bobcats proved that they can still be successful without their greatest attacking threat.
Their next game, against Robert Morris, comes against a team that they have had great success against in the past — they beat the Colonials 3-0 for their first win of the season last year — but Daugerdas isn't taking the game lightly.
"I’m looking forward to a good game," she said. "They’re 0-6 and they haven’t won a game. So since this is their home turf they’re going to want to really come in and beat us. And we have to match that intensity. So I’m ready for a good game and hopefully maybe scoring again."
The Bobcats have already shown that they are changed team from last year, with a perseverance and fight that has led to them to some big wins this season. Now that the harder portion of their nonconference schedule is behind them, the team looks ready for all the challenges that MAC play will present.
