Only one opponent stands between Ohio and the beginning of the Mid-American Conference Tournament.
The Bobcats will take on Akron tonight, looking to gain a win and some momentum going into the tournament, which begins Sunday.
Coach Stacy Strauss said that the pressure of getting into the tournament has been alleviated because the team is guaranteed a spot, but the regular-season finale does have other big implications.
We're looking at it as an opportunity to win
Strauss said. We just need a win to kind of set the tone to go into the tournament G? everything's really close right now.
Right now, the Bobcats are tied with Miami for seventh place in the conference with a 4-5-1 MAC record.
As it stands, Ohio (4-10-3) would take on second-seeded Toledo in the tournament, which handed the Bobcats a 2-1 double-overtime loss last Sunday.
If the team falls to eighth, it will face top-seeded Ball State in the first round. The Cardinals beat the Bobcats 1-0 Oct. 5. Earning the sixth seed would pit Ohio against the No. 3 seed, currently Northern Illinois. The Huskies beat the Bobcats in their matchup this season, 1-0 on Oct. 19.
Akron (6-6-6, 1-5-4 MAC) sits at the bottom of the MAC, but Ohio goalkeeper Jess MacLean said that will not make the Bobcats overlook the Zips.
MacLean said that the team will need to rack up some goals.
Just because of our record we feel pressure to win MacLean said. We obviously haven't been scoring much lately.In the first four MAC games this season, the team scored a combined seven goals; in the past six games, the Bobcats have scored just four.
We wanted to come in with a bang and it just kind of faded after that
MacLean said.
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Michelle Munoz
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Junior forward Courtney Mink evades a Miami player on Oct. 7. Ohio won 3-1. The Bobcats play Akron tonight in their last game before the MAC tournament.
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