For about 70 minutes of yesterday's game against Louisville, Ohio outplayed the Cardinals.
However, a soccer game lasts for 90 minutes.
Louisville mustered up two goals in the final 22 minutes to defeat the Bobcats, 2-1.
We gave them the game
Ohio coach Stacy Strauss said. It's disappointing to play well for 70 minutes and then lose it at the end.
We lost focus and discipline Strauss added. We forgot to be safe on the defensive.
The Cardinals trailed 1-0 until a miscue by the Bobcat defense left an open goal in front of Shannon Smyth, who tapped the ball in for a goal with 21:32 remaining.
You have to give credit to Shannon Louisville coach Karen Ferguson said. They had a bad pass
but if she doesn't get there
we don't score.
Louisville notched the winning score with 4:40 left. Cardinal forward Kelsey Hunyadi broke down the middle, drawing Bobcat defenders and leaving a streaking Lindsay Boling open to the left. Hunyadi passed to Boling, who put the ball just inside the left post. Ohio would never seriously threaten to tie.
Lindsay did a good job of keeping her composure
Ferguson said. She was in the open and managed to deliver.
Ferguson felt fortunate to leave Athens with the win.In some ways
I feel like we lost
Ferguson said. I'm not happy with the way our team played
so I just feel lucky.
Ohio (0-2-1) got on the board first in the 34th minute as Maggie Rojas-Alford received a long assist from Larissa Najjar and played the ball over Louisville keeper Joanna Haig.
We worked on shooting and finishing this week
Strauss said. We created better chances than Louisville did. Our forwards improved
and they were able to keep the ball in our possession.
The Bobcats were outshot by their opponent for the first time this season. Louisville (3-0) managed 16 shots on goal to Ohio's 12. The Cardinals also won the corner battle, 10-2, although none of those opportunities resulted in goals.
The Cardinals were coming off a 1-0 upset of No. 15 Purdue last weekend.
I don't think there was a letdown for that win
