After crossing some firsts off its to-do list last week, Ohio looks to continue the momentum this weekend against DePaul and Eastern Kentucky. The Bobcats, who sit at 0-1-1, are looking for their first win under new head coach Aaron Rodgers.
Last Sunday, Sasha Haverchak scored the first goal in the Rodgers era on a great sequence of play that eventually saw her slotting the goal in the bottom corner. Ohio will be looking for more of a scoring output from her and the rest of team.
Finishing chances should be the focus for the girls this weekend after only converting one goal in 10 shots on goal in the game against Wright State.
“That’s what wins games. Obviously good defense will turn into great offense, but at the end of the day you have to put the ball in the back of the net and if you can’t do that you’re not going to win many games,” assistant coach Elizabeth Woerle said. “So we need to finish our passes in the final attacking third and that’s how we’re going to get ourselves on the scoreboard.”
Last season, Ohio suffered a disappointing 3-0 defeat against the DePaul Blue Demons in Chicago, but the Bobcats have already shown that they are a different team from last year’s squad, as they tied Wright State, who beat the Bobcats last season.
Ohio also improved its result against Indiana. Last season, the Bobcats played tough before losing 1-0 to the Hoosiers.
DePaul looks to be a tough test as it is coming off a 4-0 blowout win against St. Louis. The Big East opponents will look to leave Athens with a much-needed non-conference win to improve their record to 2-1.
The Bobcats and Blue Demons will kick off at Chessa Field at 4 p.m. Friday.
In the second game of the weekend, Ohio travels to Eastern Kentucky, where it will be looking to repeat its result against the Colonels, who the Bobcats beat in their exhibition game 2-0 last season. Eastern Kentucky currently sits at 0-2 after losses to UNC Ashville and Western Carolina. This has been a season of continual improve for the Bobcats.
“They’ve done everything we’ve asked. Teaching a new style and system takes time to implement, but I’m sure as Aaron said, we are on the right track. We’ve had some success and we need to keep improving every game like each team wants to do,” said assistant coach Allison Whitworth. “We have a couple of special players that are leading that group and we are trying to get everyone on board.”
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