The Ohio soccer team fell from its perch atop the Mid-American Conference this weekend, losing on the road to Kent State 2-1, and Buffalo 2-0.
The Bobcats (8-6-3 overall, 7-2-3 MAC) and the Golden Flashes (11-2-5, 7-2-3 MAC) finish tied for the regular-season MAC title, but Kent's win against Ohio gives it the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage for the MAC Tournament.
Ohio entered the weekend with the opportunity to clinch the title and possibly become the first team in MAC history to record an undefeated conference season. With Central Michigan losing Friday, the Bobcats needed just a tie against Buffalo Sunday to secure the title, but fell short.
We're disappointed
coach Stacy Strauss said, but I think we're angry too at having that opportunity and not getting it done.
After allowing just three goals in 10 MAC games, the Bobcats allowed four this weekend, all in the first half. Friday, the Golden Flashes got ahead early with a goal by conference scoring leader Kimberly Dimitroff in the 34th minute on an indirect kick, and made it 2-0 on a free kick outside the Ohio goal box in the 43rd minute.
Forward Natalie Grein put Ohio on the board early in the second half, but it remained Ohio's only score of the weekend. Sunday, Ohio gave up two goals to Buffalo (6-11-1, 5-6-1 MAC), again in the first half, and could not muster a goal itself.
Down two goals
it's really hard to keep positive and to keep motivated
midfielder Kendra Hornschemeier said. If we had more time on Friday
we would have come back
but Sunday we couldn't buy a goal.
The Bobcats had been riding high for all of the MAC season, setting conference records with nine straight shutouts and an 11-game unbeaten streak. After their first losses since a 3-1 loss at Michigan Sept. 5, the Bobcats now have nine days to regroup before their MAC Tournament quarterfinal game Nov. 2. Strauss said some rest will be quite welcome.
We've tried since (Sunday's) game to get some perspective
she said. It's been a long season. Two games every weekend has beat us up a bit.
Ohio back Carrie Kistner said the Bobcats are upset, but not down for the count.
We're annoyed
she said, because all we had to do was win Friday or Sunday. We still won the conference
to an extent
but maybe it's a good thing to get these two losses out of our system.
Kent State's No. 1 seed for the MAC Tournament and Ohio's No. 2 seed are the only positions that are locked thus far. Eastern Michigan and Miami face off next weekend, as do Bowling Green and Toledo.
If Miami wins, Ohio will face Eastern Michigan in the MAC Tournament quarterfinals. If Miami loses and Bowling Green wins, Ohio will face Bowling Green. If both lose, Ohio will face Miami.
Whoever the opponent turns out to be, Ohio will play host for that MAC Tournament quarterfinal game at a time yet to be announced on Nov. 2 at Chessa Field.
