When Ohio played — and beat — Central Michigan a week ago, the matchup featured the top two teams in the Mid-American Conference. With Kent State visiting Athens today, the teams are different but the story is the same.
The Bobcats (11-3, 4-0 MAC) enjoy a one-game lead over the Golden Flashes coming into today’s 3 p.m. game at Pruitt Field.
Kent State has won its last two games and will bring Debbie Bell, a senior from New Zealand who has scored a conference-leading 13 goals.
“They have some big scorers and people who know how to put the ball in the back of the net,” Ohio goalkeeper Jen McGill said. “Personally, I’m trying to get ready by having our coaches take shots on me.”
McGill also said the team is working specifically on its penalty corner defense, which should be an area of concern considering that Kent State (5-8, 3-1 MAC) leads the conference in that category.
The Golden Flashes have taken 112 corners this season — the same number as Ohio —and of the 12 goals the Bobcats have conceded so far, nine of them have resulted from corners for the other team.
“We have to continue to play as a team,” coach Neil Macmillan said. “That’s been our strength all year. Passing the ball around, moving the ball — if we can do that, then we can hang with anyone.”
Macmillan is quick to point out that, even in Ohio’s losses this year, his club generated more offense and gave itself more scoring opportunities than the game’s winner.
But if their first few shots on the goal don’t light up the scoreboard, the Bobcats won’t get discouraged, Macmillan said. The coach knows his team is confident enough to produce more chances as the game goes on.
“I think in the last 10 to 15 minutes, our fitness is paying off,” he said. “We’re really doing some good things at the end of the game.”
Despite his team’s conditioning, Macmillan said it is not something that is stressed during practice. His players are aware that it’s their individual responsibility to be in top shape.
One of the hardest workers on the team is McGill, who will play a key role in this weekend’s games.
“She doesn’t need too much direction from the coaching staff or anyone else,” Macmillan said. “She knows what she has to do and does it.”
Following their game against Kent State, the Bobcats host Missouri State tomorrow at 1 p.m. Earlier this season, Ohio beat the Bears 5-1.
me811508@ohiou.edu
