The Ohio field hockey team split their pair of games for the third consecutive weekend.
The Bobcats (8-9, 6-3 Mid-American Conference) dominated Missouri State (3-13, 2-6 MAC) in Athens on Friday, winning 4-0 as the team celebrated Senior Day. However, the Bobcats could not get it done yesterday, falling to rival Kent State (6-12, 6-2 MAC) for the second time this season.
The weekend started well, with Ohio honoring its five seniors playing in their last home game at Peggy Pruitt Field and then beating the Bears as goalkeeper Jen Cote earned a shutout in her final home game in goal for the Bobcats.
Along with Cote, the other seniors commemorated were co-captains Lindsay Rothenberger and Erica Bundalo as well as midfielder Chelsea Mearig and forward Taylor Edwards.
There's no better way to go out on 'Senior Day' than a shutout. It's just a great feeling
forward Torrie Albini said. We weren't really trying to make it obvious that we were playing this game up but with four years of dedication that the seniors have put in we really wanted to win this one for them.
Rothenberger, recently selected for the National Field Hockey Coaches Association's All-Star game, opened the scoring for the Bobcats, netting a goal on a breakaway at the 10:25 mark.
Then midfielder Nikki Gnozzio scored her fourth goal of the season, giving Ohio a 2-0 lead at the half.
Albini scored twice in the game's second stanza, and the defense stayed strong to preserve the win for the Bobcats, earning the victory for the seniors and leaving the team in a state of jubilation.
It's great just to be out here to support the team
injured midfielder Rachelle Coetzee said.
Unfortunately for Ohio, the elation was short-lived, as they again fell to Kent State in a hard-fought contest Sunday, losing 1-0 and relinquishing their spot atop the MAC to the Golden Flashes.
We executed the game plan as we should have done and we played well throughout; however
we didn't finish the last 25 yards
Coach Neil Macmillan said. It was a very good game of hockey.
The Bobcats head north this weekend, as they are set to face MAC foe Central Michigan (7-10, 4-4 MAC) on Saturday and finish the regular season against non-conference opponent Michigan State (10-7) on Sunday.
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Joe Rudemiller
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