Ohio leads Kent State in almost every statistic but the most important one, the standings.
The Bobcats have already beaten the RedHawks, who lead the Mid-American Conference with a 3-1 record. Now they'll see how they measure up to the Golden Flashes, as Ohio (6-7, 2-1 MAC) heads to Kent today in a match-up of the past two conference champions.
Coach Neil Macmillan said the Golden Flashes (7-5, 2-1 MAC) are, along with the RedHawks, the Bobcats' biggest rivals.
The first two meetings between the big three have gone into overtime. Ohio narrowly defeated the RedHawks in overtime at Pruitt Field on Sept. 25. The next day, Miami traveled to Kent and beat the Golden Flashes in extra time, 4-3.
That shows you how close these teams can be
Macmillan said. (Today's match is) one of those games that will probably decide where you end up in the conference standings.
Ohio sits at third in the MAC after a loss to Central Michigan last weekend ruined its 2-0 start. Miami, with a 3-1 conference record, leads the league with Kent State in second.
Thanks to wins over two ranked teams in the Kookaburra/National Field Hockey Coaches Association Division I National Coaches Poll, the Golden Flashes garnered the most national recognition of the MAC's big three.
Kent State beat No. 9 Syracuse in overtime on Sept. 4 and No. 7 Michigan State on Sept. 17. The victory over the Spartans propelled the Golden Flashes to No. 17 in the nation in the third week of the poll.
In the latest edition, Ohio placed 31st with six votes and Miami was 34th with three. Kent State received the most votes of any team outside the top-20 with 105.
They're a very good team Macmillan said. They've got great individual skills.
One Golden Flash Macmillan is looking to contain today is senior •Rachel Miller, last season's •MAC Player of the Year. Miller and junior •Debbie Bell were All-MAC First Team selections last year.
Still, Ohio is the reigning MAC champion. But Macmillan said that does not motivate Kent State any more than usual.
All of us are just gunning for each other because that's who we are Macmillan said.
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Nathaniel Maund
