Ohio's low point of the season came during a loss to Missouri State.
Against a team that they should have beaten, a 2-0 lead vanished, resulting in a 3-2 overtime loss.
The Bobcats knew they needed a change.
Since that loss, Ohio (7-7, 5-2 MAC) has gone 5-1, clawed its way back to .500 and is on the cusp of first place in the Mid-American Conference.
I think the loss to Missouri State has really helped us refocus and get back on track with things
Katelyn Shelley said.
We really needed to realize that if we want to win the MAC we have to play better.
Coach Neil Macmillan downplayed the loss but said that it was a setback in the MAC field hockey standings.
Macmillan said another reason for the resurgence is a change in quality of opponents. The Bobcats began the season by facing six ranked teams, but since MAC play began, they have not faced any.
He said those tough games have helped his team.
You play the type of competition we played and you learn a lot about yourself Macmillan said. It would have been better to learn while we were winning
but nevertheless
you still look to take and develop your game plan moving from there.
Shelley has played a large part in the Bobcats' comeback. The senior has 15 points in her last nine games and also had six points last weekend against Kent State and Missouri State. She was named the MAC Offensive Player of the Week due to her efforts.
Her game on the field has come on
Macmillan said. Her two goals this past weekend were great positioning off of two passes she received.
The senior midfielder knew she needed to make a change to her game. She wanted to make an impact on the field, either by scoring or setting teammates up.
The coaches talked to the seniors and just said that this is our team
and we need to step up
Shelley said. I felt individually I needed to refocus myself.
Ohio goes into the weekend with a game against No. 13 Duke tomorrow, and it's a chance for the Bobcats to prove how much they have progressed since the beginning of their 5-1 run.
We've played them the last few years
and it's always a good
competitive game
senior Nina Bruno said. I think we're all going out there knowing we can win the game.
