Filling the offensive gap left by the departed Torrie Albini has been an issue for the field hockey team, which has scored just four goals in four games.
However, entering a Saturday game at Big Ten foe Indiana, coach Neil Macmillan appeared confident that the offensive woes won't continue.
The one thing you can really tell on tape is we're getting in the right places
he said. It's just making that last play to score the goal.
I think long-term we're going to have no issues with it
he added. It's just the glaring thing when you look at the score sheet.
Albini accounted for nearly one-third of Ohio's goals last season, scoring 20 of the team's 64, and finished her career second in all-time goals for the Bobcats with 49. She also contributed a team-leading 14 assists in 2007.
Both Macmillan and junior Taylor Anderson acknowledged the impact that Albini had last season, but added that the lack of a focus on one player could be beneficial for the Ohio attack.
This year
we're trying to be more team-oriented with the way we play
Macmillan said. Hopefully
that creates its own challenges for the opposition because ' all being well ' we can attack from any number of positions.
Anderson is one of several Bobcats seeing more time in Ohio's consistently moving rotation, which saw more than 16 players take the field in each of the team's last two games. She said a noticeable change in offensive strategy took place this season in Albini's absence.
Torrie was an awesome player
and we used her a lot. We're changing things around
working with different systems until we get it
she said. 'Do anything to get it back there
' that's (Macmillan's) philosophy. It doesn't matter who you run over in the way.
Macmillan implemented a particular drill to aid the Bobcats in finishing around the goal. It takes place entirely inside of the goal box, and the coaches fire balls into a crowd of players, divided into defense and offense, expecting the offensive players to find a way to put the ball in the back of the net.
The drill is an effective way of emphasizing Ohio's offensive plan, Macmillan said.
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