The Ohio soccer team showed it could compete with a nationally ranked opponent Friday but were unable to deliver an upset in a 3-1 home loss to Michigan.
Ohio (2-2-0) looked like the team with a national ranking in the first 20 minutes by controlling possession and creating numerous scoring opportunities. Forward Lindsey Price was an inch away from giving the Bobcats the lead when her shot from outside the box hit the crossbar.
It took only one shot, however, to take away any momentum created by the Bobcats' strong start. In the 24th minute, Michigan forward Judy Coffman knocked in a shot from seven yards out to give the Wolverines a 1-0 lead and control of momentum for the remainder of the first half.
Forward Tiffany Horvath said she thought there was a letdown after Michigan scored.
We outplayed them the first 20 minutes
she said. We were creating chances but as soon as they scored we put our heads down.
Defender Sara Williams said that there was a definite momentum shift after the goal.
They just kept coming at us
she said. We definitely went at them for the first 10 to 20 minutes
and we just needed to continue that
but we dropped off.
The first half letdown did not appear to bother the 'Cats to start off the second half, however. Freshman midfielder Erika Schmitt collected her first collegiate goal when she blasted a shot from 12 yards out to tie the contest 1-1 in the 58th minute.
Coach Stacy Strauss was pleased with the freshman's improvement.
Erika Schmitt was great today
Strauss said. She is becoming one of our most consistent and talented players.
The tie would not last long, however. Michigan's non-stop pressure became too much for Ohio when Michigan forward Katie Kramer scored to give the Wolverines a 2-1 lead in the 65th minute. In the 73rd minute, Michigan forward Melissa Dobbyn knocked in her own rebound to put Michigan up 3-1.
Ohio will look to get back on the winning track when they travel to Drake for two games. They face Drake at 5:30 p.m. Friday and Creighton at 11:00 a.m. Sunday.
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Andrew Gribble
