If Ohio wins both games this weekend, it is guaranteed to make it to the MAC Tournament.
This weekend will be the most pivotal one Ohio has had all season.
A Friday trip upstate to Toledo followed by a return to Chessa Field on Sunday to face Central Michigan will determine if the Bobcats (5-10, 3-5 Mid-American Conference) make the postseason for the second time in coach Aaron Rodgers' career at Ohio University.
"Hopefully we'll be able to build on a good result from Friday night," Rodgers said. "We have to win two of the last three (games) to usher ourselves into the tournament."
After putting four goals past Bowling Green on Sunday, the Bobcats could be on pace to get those two wins. Ohio had four different scorers Sunday, with the attack looking fluid as sophomore Allie Curry and junior Natalie Estes scored their first goals of the season.
"That was the most we've scored in a MAC game since 2008, so that was huge for us," Rodgers said. "And that gives us a lot of confidence. We've been creating a lot of chances, we just haven't been finishing them."
{{tncms-asset app="editorial" id="137d610a-75d9-11e5-9c71-2778f2716e5e"}}
That four point outing came after a disappointing 3-1 loss to Eastern Michigan last Friday in which the Bobcats looked listless on both sides of the ball. Despite the back and forth results, Rodgers keeps the attitude at practice light-hearted and continues to inspire his team to get results.
Right now, there is no better time for his team to hit a hot run. Toledo (6-11, 2-6) and Central Michigan (5-8-2, 4-3-1) are in similar spots as Ohio, with all three teams having won six games or fewer and holding a losing record in conference play. If Rodgers' team is to truly prove it is ready to go to the MAC Tournament, it will need to dispatch at least one of these opponents to do so.
Despite the loss of sophomore starting right back Kelley Zebrowski to injury, the Bobcats defense has looked strong, besides a few three-goal anomalies against Eastern and Western Michigan. In Zebrowski's absence, freshman Mandy Arnzen and sophomore Katie McCurley have stepped up to share time on the right flank.
Solid defense usually leads to good offense, and Ohio seems to have gotten out of its early season rut. The Bobcats have scored six goals in their past three games with freshman Stephanie Rowland and junior Alexis Milesky leading the front three.
@kellenbecoats
