For Ohio, this season has been one with mixed results. In a year with championship aspirations, Ohio has started 3-4-1 in Mid-American Conference play. One strength the team has found is in its outside backs, Maia Kaufman and Rayann Pruss, both of whom are freshmen.
Kaufman has played 921 minutes this season, good for seventh on the team. During the MAC season, Kaufman has averaged over 68 minutes per game, proving to be a key piece for head coach Aaron Rodgers and the Bobcats. She has also started all of her games at right back this year.
Pruss started her second MAC game on Sunday against Ball State and played the full 90 minutes. This was after limited playing time throughout the MAC season to this point. Averaging just 8.4 minutes per game through the team's first 5 MAC games, Pruss had her break against Bowling Green. She played 45 minutes in that game, then played 77 against Central Michigan, followed by 90 against Ball State.
Even with this limited play, Rodgers has seen the two players improve and play at a level above their years.
“You know, at this point, you kind of don't really think they're freshmen anymore,” Rodgers said. “It's nice to know they're gaining a lot of good experience so that they'll be able to continue to grow and improve and be ready to play as their years come.”
Late in the game against Ball State, Pruss found herself in an important position, with an important role to play. During the 88th minute, down by one goal, Pruss got the ball on the outside of the box, broke past a defender, and delivered a cross into the box, giving Ohio a great chance to score late in the game to tie it up. Although the shot on goal was wide, it was a great play by Pruss to prove she was ready for the biggest moments.
Kaufman, in the game against Ball State, was also tasked with an important job. Ball State has been one of the highest-scoring teams in the MAC, and that is in large part due to junior midfielder Avery Fenchel, who leads the team in goals with 11. Kaufman made a slide tackle against Fenchel inside the box, preventing a 1-on-1 with the keeper.
Kaufman throughout the game saw her responsibilities expand, as during corner kicks she was the sole defender who would stay back. She was also responsible for sending the ball back to the offense, as she had several clearances that would lead directly to strong Ohio attacks.
“I mean, she was going up against one of the top players in the league, one of the most physically strong players in the league, and she's a freshman,” Rodgers said. “To be able to step in and match that physicality and match that opportunity to, to defend that, I thought she did really well.”
