Forget regular season successes and failures outside of and within the Mid-American Conference -this year's MAC field hockey tournament is shaping up to be as unpredictable as a Tim Wakefield knuckleball.
Beating Louisville a couple weeks ago proved to them that we can beat even the best of teams if we play well
coach Shelly Morris said. It's just a matter now of them (Ohio) doing that and doing it for consecutive days.
The Ohio field hockey team (6-14 overall, 4-6 MAC) enters the 2004 tournament as the No. 4-seed. The Bobcats drew No. 5 Ball State (4-13, 4-6 MAC) after the teams finished the MAC regular season with identical conference records.
The difference maker is the 2004 series between Ohio and Ball State. The Bobcats defeated the Cardinals 3-2 at Peggy Pruitt Field Oct. 9. The win allowed Ohio to dethrone Ball State from a first-place tie in the MAC.
And just last weekend, Ohio picked up another win against Ball State, again by a score of 3-2, this time in overtime.
We know we can dominate this team Morris said. That's huge mentally for us going into this tournament.
No. 1 Louisville, which earned a quarterfinal bye, will be waiting for the game's winner. The Bobcats split their season series with Louisville, dropping a 6-1 decision at Louisville Oct. 2 before shocking the Cardinals 3-2 at home two weeks ago.
If the Bobcats prevail from their side of the MAC Tournament, they will meet either No. 2 Kent State, No. 3 Central Michigan or No. 6 Miami in the championship game Saturday. Ohio boasts a 1-5 record against those three teams this season.
History is on Ohio's side, however. The last four years have seen the Bobcats reach the MAC Tournament championship game regardless of the team's success in the regular season.
In 2000 (10-10, 6-4 MAC), 2001 (16-5, 9-1 MAC), 2002 (12-10, 5-5 MAC) and 2003 (9-12, 5-5 MAC), Ohio has found a way to the finals. The Bobcats won the conference in 2001.
With an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament on the line, it's no wonder the Bobcats, and the rest of the MAC, turn up their game in the tournament.
I do think that in the back of our minds there's a level of confidence because we have done well the last four years in the tournament
Morris said. My seniors have been there for all four of those times
winning a championship three years ago; I think they'll carry that with them.
Ohio and Ball State begin their quarterfinal battle for a chance to play Louisville in the semifinals at noon today in Muncie, Ind.
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Mark Shugar
