Anytime a team plays a league opponent, the series will always be hotly contested. To Ohio, the series against Robert Morris-Illinois is one of the most important.
“I feel like they have always been one of our rivals,” said Jimmy Thomas, the team’s senior goalie. “It has been a good battle with them the entire time our senior class has been here.”
After their first series of the season, the Bobcats’ senior class holds a record of 9-3-2 against Robert Morris. Four of those games went past regulation, and three went to a shootout. The most recent Friday game going six rounds in the first game of the most recent series.
In the second game of the series Ohio shutout Robert Morris and Thomas broke the career record for most shutouts at Ohio. Two of Thomas’ 16 career shutouts have come against the Eagles.
“It’s very exciting and very humbling,” Thomas said. “It’s a long season and there is a lot bigger goals to accomplish.
During the senior Bobcats’ time on the ice every time the Bobcats and the Eagles have faced off it has been a top-20 matchup. The highest match up in that time span came in the 2017-18 seaosn. Ohio was at No. 4 and Robert Morris at No. 5.
“It's always been a give and take,” Thomas said. “Every time we play them we are always amped up and excited.”
The rivalry started out right away in 2016-17. In their two series the Bobcats and the Eagles split both series. Three of the four games were settled by two goals or less.
The rivalry reached its peak last season. Ohio swept then-No. 18 Robert Morris when the Eagles came to Bird Arena for the first series.
The Eagles returned the favor later in the season. The Bobcats traveled to Chicago and returned home with two tough losses to the then-No. 19 Eagles. The first defeat came after a 9-round shootout. The second game ended in overtime.
Sometimes when teams face off against rivals, practices can get on edge. The Bobcats seemed to hold that off until the series rolled around.
“The rivalry stuff shows up in the game,” coach Cole Bell said. “You see some emotions and the intensity grows, like we saw this weekend.”
When the two teams meet on Jan. 31-Feb. 1, the Bobcats will have to be careful. They swept the Eagles in the first matchup. Both games of that series were close till the end. Robert Morris will be looking to get revenge when the series goes to Chicago.
“They know these league games are important,” Bell said. “Nothing is really handed to you for free.”
