When Ohio travels to face Lindenwood this weekend, the key for the Bobcats will be on the defensive side of the ice.
They got enough talent to put up lots of goals
Ohio coach Dan Morris said. We've been working on our defensive side of the game to counterbalance that.
In just 11 games for Lindenwood this year, the Lions have piled up 51 goals. Last weekend, Ohio had to play two forwards, Jim Roach and Brandon Steffek, on defense because of injuries. Roach and Steffek are expected to be playing defense again this week.
Hopefully everything works out (on defense) Morris said. (Roach and Steffek) are looking pretty good back there so I think we're going to keep them there a little while.
Despite the gaudy goal numbers, Morris feels that the teams are evenly matched, which sets up for an exciting weekend.
We do a lot of the same things and have a lot of the same style of players
so it's always a good matchup
Morris said.
Ohio (8-4) enters the weekend ranked fourth in the nation and tied for second in the Central States Collegiate Hockey League. Lindenwood (7-4) comes in at sixth in the nation and third in the CSCHL. Three of the Lions' four losses have come against top-ranked Illinois, all by one-goal deficits.
Lindenwood's one of the top teams in the country and in our league
Morris said. They're tough here at Bird (Arena)
and they're even tougher in their own barn
so we got our work cut out for us. It's a big tilt
that's for sure.
Last weekend at Michigan-Dearborn, the Bobcats came away with their first road sweep of the year. They hope to carry over what they did well in that series into the matchup against the Lions.
We were really conservative and patient
and I want to continue that
Morris said. We did some things differently than we normally have done throughout the year
