After playing No. 4 Michigan State into double-overtime on Saturday, Ohio's contest with Central Michigan yesterday should have been no problem.
But the Bobcats suffered another Mid-American Conference setback after a 1-0 loss to the Chippewas. Coupled with the 2-1 defeat to Michigan State, Ohio lost two weekend games for the first time since late September.
We were outplayed and outhustled by a team (Central Michigan) that wanted to win the game more than we did
said coach Neil Macmillan, whose team is now 4-3 in MAC action and 6-10 overall.
If you look at our two teams on paper we are undoubtedly the better team Macmillan said. But unless you show that you're the better team and demonstrate that you are superior
you get beaten up.
Macmillan's goal for the league schedule is to secure a first-round bye in the postseason MAC tournament, which is awarded to the top two teams in the regular-season standings.
Kent State currently sits atop the conference with a 6-1 mark, and Miami's 5-2 record puts the RedHawks ahead of Ohio.
Macmillan said he's not sure where to start with his team's inconsistency.
If I knew
why do you think I would have let it happen? Macmillan said of Ohio's lack of intensity. (Yesterday) was definitely a setback. I'm searching for the answers as much as anyone.
Although yesterday's loss put a sour note on the weekend, Macmillan still found reason to be proud of his players' effort against the Spartans.
Michigan State struck early when Chantae Miller received a pass to the center from Angela Pagura and fired it past goalkeeper Jessie Martin. The defense, however, buckled down and held the Spartans scoreless for the next 89 minutes.
Rachelle Coetzee evened the score in the 54th minute in a penalty corner situation, her ninth goal of the season. The squads battled through the rest of regulation and overtime, but Miller ended the game in the second extra period off another penalty corner opportunity.
We were tough
Macmillan said. We were fast. We executed as we needed to
and we did a good job.
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Dylan Scott
