The Ohio lacrosse team proved this weekend that it is dangerous at home and not only can compete with top-20 teams but also beat them.
The Bobcats (7-6 overall, 2-2 American Lacrosse Conference) stole a 15-13 win from St. Bonaventure (7-5) in the closing seconds of their game Friday and defeated conference foe No. 18 Penn State (5-10, 2-3 ALC), 8-7, yesterday on the soggy turf of Peggy Pruitt Field.
Midfielders Lynz Keys and Melissa Menna scored five goals each in the contest against the Bonnies Friday, but the second goal of a two-goal performance from midfielder Kristen Gombeski proved to be the most important score of the day.
After a late three-goal rally from St. Bonaventure tied the game at 13 with 1:14 remaining, Gombeski found the net with 28 seconds left. The Bobcat win broke a three-game winning streak for the Bonnies.
Keys, who added the insurance tally with only three seconds remaining, said after three tough losses on the road it was good being back at home.
It's nice to be home in your own bed
said Keys. It energizes you. We had a really positive attitude going into today's game and it showed as we kept consistent momentum.
Goalkeeper Jen Cassidy made seven saves in the game, many of them at crucial points of the contest.
We were very confident coach Kate Brew said. (St. Bonaventure) is a good team and it was a great game. We were able to maintain possession and our composure.
Sunday was memorable for the Bobcats' Senior Day, in which Keys, Menna, Cassidy, midfielder Becky Oxman and attackers Emily Hemmelgarn and Courtney Santelli were honored before the game.
Despite trailing 2-0 within the first six minutes of the game, the Bobcats came within one at the end of the first half, down 3-2, with goals from Menna and Oxman.
In the second half scoring picked up for both sides, and Ohio tallied the first two points of the half in the first five minutes with Oxman and Menna recording their second goals of the day.
After a Penn State goal, scores from Menna, Keys and midfielder Caitlin Link gave the Bobcats a lead they never relinquished. Menna tallied her 4th of the day with 7:28 left in the half to give Ohio the cushion needed to hold off two late tallies from Penn State.
Cassidy dominated in goal for the Bobcats, making 15 saves on the day.
When we needed the save
Jen made it
said Brew. This was just one of our goals to beat a top-20 team. To do so against such a good team is great.
The Bobcats look to ride the momentum of this weekend's success as they head back on the road this coming weekend with games against Northwestern and Denver.
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Mark Shugar
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Ohio midfielder Becky Oxman defends St. Bonaventure attacker Nicole Motondo Friday at Peggy Pruitt Field. Oxman tallied a goal and an assist in the 15-13 win. Ohio also topped Penn State during the weekend. The win against the Nittany Lions gave the Bobca
