As the last few minutes of regulation wound down, Kent State's offense continued to penetrate Ohio's defense. Kent State couldn't convert, however, and the game headed to overtime.
The Bobcats and Golden Flashes kept going back and forth, remaining very physical with each other in the 10 minute overtime. And just when it seemed like a second overtime was inevitable, Kent State scored with 4.5 seconds left on the clock.
It was the Bobcats fourth loss in extra time of the season.
Ohio was unable to continue its successes of its two-game winning streak when it lost 3-2 in overtime to Kent State, one of the Mid-American Conference's top teams. It was the Bobcats final game of the season and their last shot at making it to the MAC Tournament.
"This has been the weirdest season I've ever been a part of because our record is no indication of the quality of this team and the heart that this team has played," coach Aaron Rodgers said after the game.
The Bobcats went 5-12-1 (3-8 MAC) this season with four overtime losses — including today's loss to Kent State — and two double-overtime losses. The team was never blown out, however, having never lost by more than one goal.
Nevertheless, the Bobcats have made some substantial progress for the soccer program this season. During Rodgers' first year coaching in 2013, the team scored 26 goals, which was the most it had ever scored since 2003. This season, the Bobcats scored 27.
"It's been such a fun team to work with and they've had such a great spirit all season and they've worked so hard and committed so much to each other, it's just, you know, it's just hard," Rodgers said. "Especially knowing that if we would've won, we would've been in eighth place and we would've gone to the tournament and to be so close ... it hurts."
The Bobcats started out strong Friday with a corner kick from senior Molly Whitacre turning into a scoring opportunity for freshman Alivia Milesky, who scored Ohio's first goal with a header shot in the 17th minute. Milesky scored in three straight games, making that her fourth goal of the season.
Ohio's defense slowed down several of Kent State's goal attempt set-ups in both halves of the match, especially in the first. There were numerous times when the Golden Flashes' relentless offense went in for the kill, but the Bobcats' aggressive efforts dissolved those attempts.
Although Ohio's defense played a big role in preventing Kent State from scoring, it wasn't enough. The Golden Flashes kept coming back and eventually scored with less than three minutes left in the first half, which tied the game at one.
With the second half underway, the Bobcats got back to business as freshman Sydney Leckie set up sophomore Madelyn Kah with a feed up the middle that Kah drove to the right side of the goal to put Ohio up 2-1. The lead didn't last. Kent responded almost immediately with a header goal.
As the Golden Flashes celebrated, emotions ran high for the defeated Bobcats, especially for senior captain Alexis Milesky who was a key part for the Bobcats this season.
"I feel for the seniors and I'm so appreciative of the four years that they've given and how hard that they have played and how much they've given to this program," Rodgers said. "(The heart the team has), it just shows the foundation that the seniors have left and they've laid."
