The non-conference schedule is good preparation, but it's conference play that makes or breaks a season.
Mid-American Conference play begins this weekend. It is a six-week, 11-game schedule that will test the team. For the seniors, this is their last go around.
This is the last time I'm ever going to play in the MAC
senior forward Jasmine Merith said. Whenever you realize it's the last of anything it tends to be a little more sentimental so I'm going and giving it everything I have this year.
While the seniors have been through the challenges of conference play a few times, the team is loaded with freshmen and sophomores who do not have as much experience playing in a difficult conference like the MAC.
This season we have a lot of depth on our team senior goalkeeper Jess MacLean said. We have a very young team
so that's a great thing.
Some may see inexperience as a disadvantage, but the players are not worried about that.
Our youth is going to be an advantage
Merith said. We're going to bring some new talent into the league
talent that hasn't been seen before.
Our young players have definitely stepped up and have helped us
junior midfielder Jackie Hanson said. Having a young team doesn't really worry me at all.
Last season Ohio won just four games in the MAC and finished ninth, which was the second-worst finish in coach Stacy Strauss' career. The Bobcats followed that by starting 1-4 in nonconference play this year.
But they have shown signs of growth in their past two games, winning two close contests in the final minutes.
Earlier in the season
we struggled on playing a full 90 minutes
but it's really come into play lately
Hanson said. These past two games
we've scored in the last 10 minutes
