After a pair of losses on the road, the Ohio lacrosse team returns home to Peggy Pruitt Field to close its season today against American Lacrosse Conference foe Ohio State.
The Bobcats (7-8 overall, 2-3 ALC) are looking to bring both their conference and season records to .500 with a win against the Buckeyes (5-10, 1-4 ALC). Ohio has not beaten Ohio State in its last three meetings and is trying to keep its 5-0 home record untarnished.
Our road trips are always so long
said coach Kate Brew. We really don't have any nearby games so we travel a lot. It's nice not to have to think about it and be home. The girls are more relaxed.
Brew said she knows the game is huge for the Bobcats, who are rebounding from a rough road trip that left Ohio outscored 34-16 by Northwestern and Denver in two more road losses.
We certainly had a disappointing last weekend said Brew. We will be ready to play since it is the last game of the season and at home. We need to end on a positive note. This team has been so good this season and the girls deserve to end it well.
The game is the last for senior midfielders Lynz Keys and Becky Oxman, attackers Courtney Santelli, Melissa Menna and Emily Hemmelgarn, as well as goal keeper Jennifer Cassidy.
They've provided great leadership all year
said Brew. They really are the core of the team
and they have helped put this program on the map. Our seniors have also been great at motivating the younger players.
Keys leads the team offensively with 55 points (47 goals, eight assists) while Menna (29 goals, eight assists) and Oxman (20 goals, 11 assists) have consistently produced all season. Hemmelgarn and Santelli each found the net in recent action.
Offense has not been a problem for Ohio, which has outscored opponents 176 to 172 this season. Defensively, Meg Ryan and Molly Wurdack have been huge for the Bobcats.
Cassidy has been the rock in goal the Bobcats have depended on in tight games, having made 148 saves this season while starting all 15 games.
Ohio needs all elements of the team clicking well to take the game from Ohio State, Brew said.
Ohio State is a very
very good team
and it's always a good game between us at the end of the season
said Brew. We are expecting a great game.
The action begins between the Bobcats and Buckeyes at 4 p.m. today at Peggy Pruitt Field.
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