On Friday, the Ohio soccer team can start to prove its mantra of a new season and attitude, one that was installed after the past season.
However, the mantra will be tested early against Wright State, winners of the past two matches against the Bobcats.
With little expected from Ohio — picked to finish fifth in the MAC East by the Mid-American Conferences Coaches Poll — sophomore Tonya Frasik said now is the time to capitalize on their new start.
“Everyone is so excited and everyone talks about (how) it’s a new team, new year and they’re excited with who we have out there and we’re ready to get some W’s in this year,” she said.
After defeating Eastern Kentucky in the exhibition game Sunday, Ohio coach Stacy Strauss said the win was a good validation for the players, despite the roster shake-up.
“We had a lot of new faces on the field and they did a good job to work through some nervousness and play to their potential,” Strauss said.
She added that goal combinations in the final third on Sunday, like Cathryn Rogers’ goal, which was set up by two header passes off a corner kick, were a vast improvement from recent years.
Frasik said there is always room for improvement as the team is working on switching its attacks quicker in the midfield this week to get the defense on their feet.
Friday, Ohio plays Wright State, its first road contest of the season. The Raiders return a lot of depth from last year’s team that advanced to the Horizon League Championship.
The Bobcats then travel to Bloomington for a showdown against the Indiana Hoosiers. The Hoosiers opened its season with a 6-3 victory against Northern Kentucky. Freshman Jessie Bujouves scored all three of Indiana’s goals.
Frasik said the team is excited and ready to play against some bigger competition. She said she doesn’t expect much of a lag with Ohio having its first series of games on the season because the team is in good shape.
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