Ohio split its first two games of the season, losing 2-1 in overtime at Butler before putting together an inspiring 2-1 win over Dayton for the team's home opener. It may only be one weekend into the season, but the difference between this year's team and the one coach Aaron Rodgers rolled out last year are vastly different. Here's three major takeaways from the weekend.
Offensive efficiency
Remember how the 2015 Ohio team slogged through games and struggled to score goals, especially when it needed them? Early indications say scoring goals won't be a problem this year.
That is massive news for Rodgers and his Bobcats given they averaged just under a goal a game last season and didn't score their first goal until the fourth game of the 2015 season.
But with the new additions of junior transfer Bryce Hueber and six mostly offensive-inclined freshman, the Bobcats' new-look offense can really click when it's working, as it was during their game against the Flyers.
"Credit to these ladies and their work and their intensity and most importantly their unity," Rodgers said. "I would say that — and this will be my fourth season here — that this is the biggest win (over Dayton) that we’ve had since I’ve been here and maybe the best win in six, seven or eight years."
Formation domination
Rodgers has re-embraced the 4-3-3 after going away from it a little bit last season and his players look to be really embracing it.
"It’s not too new, other than maybe we drop back the forwards a little bit more if we are defending in a more defensive game," Allie Curry said. "But with the 4-3-3 we’ve been playing it for awhile ... but we’re really doing well with it this year."
The formation features a lot of flexibility, which is greatly helped by Ohio's depth in nearly every position and allows the team to mix and match players.
New kid(s) on the block
Fans should certainly take advantage of the rosters given out during these early home games because there are quite a few names they won't recognize from year's past.
Seven new players have made every passing sequence an exercise in digging through the roster numbers and squinting at the backs of jerseys to identify who has the ball.
Luckily the new faces have been a huge advantage for the Bobcats as Curry is adamant about the idea that it feels like the newbies have been around for years.
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"Honestly it’s like they’ve been here the past two years," Curry said of the new players. "They’ve really connected really good, and our unity is really good off the field too. On and off the field we all feel really comfortable together."
Rodgers was full of similar praise, stating that the effort put forth from each player to get out of their comfort zone and really try to mesh together has created a lot of unity within the team.
With the opening weekend — and the team's first win — firmly behind Ohio, expect the team to only get more cohesive as the pre-conference season continues.
@KellenBecoats
kb749012@ohio.edu
