Today's American Lacrosse Conference contest for the Ohio women's lacrosse team is much more than another road game against a tough opponent.
The Bobcats (5-5, 1-1 ALC) have a chance to do a number of things, and first and foremost is to beat No. 11 Vanderbilt (7-3, 1-1 ALC) for the first time since the teams first played in 2002. Ohio also has a chance to improve on the road, where the Bobcats have dropped five of seven games this year.
This is a big game for us
said graduate assistant coach Lindsey Hart. Vanderbilt is ranked it's a conference game and (coach) Kate (Brew) used to coach there. That helps for us to get a good scouting report but we still have to play a good game.
This game is not just another game against a good opponent, Brew said.
We have been competing with top 20 teams all season
said Brew, who coached as an assistant for Vanderbilt from 1999-2002. We're out to play hard but to win too. This game carries lots of significance.
Three classes of players Brew helped recruit are still playing at Vanderbilt. The Commodores coach Cathy Swezey coached Brew for a season during her playing days at James Madison. Both assistant coaches are good friends of Brew's and former teammates.
Brew's knowledge of the Vanderbilt team is extensive, but she knows that Vanderbilt can be a difficult opponent.
We certainly know exactly what to expect from this team
said Brew. They are senior dominated and very smart on the field. They will read our play well.
Brew said that the Bobcats have worked hard in practices this week to learn and prepare for Vanderbilt's motion offenses. The team also has an idea of what specific player matchups will be.
Ohio boasts a trio of players that the Commodores will no doubt be worrying about in their defensive end. Midfielders Lynz Keys (30 goals, seven assists) and Dana Dobbie (33 goals, 10 assists) as well as attacker Melissa Menna (17 goals, six assists) all have been finding points in recent games.
The Bobcats have outscored opponents 127-106 this season and enter the game ranked second in the nation in draw controls with an average of 15 per game. Dobbie leads the nation with 5.6 draws per game.
Goalkeeper Jen Cassidy gets her 11th start of the season. Cassidy is three saves shy of 100 this year.
Action starts between Ohio and Vanderbilt at 7 tonight in Nashville, Tenn.
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Mark Shugar
