If Chessa Field was located on Sesame Street, this weekend of soccer would have been brought to you by the letter C.
C stands for composure and communication - two things the Bobcats lacked in Friday's loss but found in time to win yesterday.
The Bobcats (4-5-2, 1-2-1 Mid-American Conference) opened the weekend with a lackluster performance against Toledo. Ohio controlled the ball and the tempo from the outset but struggled to keep pace after the Rockets scored 15 minutes into the match.
Ohio's troubles came primarily on defense, as both Toledo goals came on plays where the ball got behind the unit. In the first half, Brittany Hensler netted her fourth goal of the 2010 campaign on a pass that Megan Blake lofted over the Bobcat defense.
I just think we've got to keep high pressure and communicate as forwards and midfielders
as a team said junior midfielder Toye Famodu. We were doing that in the first 15 minutes and then after that it kind of slowed down a little bit.
The Rockets (8-2-2, 4-0-0 MAC) extended their lead 10 minutes after halftime on a breakaway goal by Kristen Lynn. Sarah Brown was yellow carded after the play for arguing that Lynn was offside.
With time running out, the Bobcats appeared frustrated and tried to substitute grit for speed. The strategy didn't work out, as the team never found the back of the net.
As we got a little bit frantic we lost our style coach Stacy Strauss said. I think we need to be a bit more composed and be the aggressor
but at the same time recognize when we need to just get the ball and move it around them.
Ohio composed itself much better in its 1-0 victory against Ball State. In the eighth minute, Erin Schwenke scored her second goal of the season on a fast break. Famodu centered the ball to Schwenke, who beat Cardinals goalkeeper Aubrey Buehler.
It was a nice combination play between all three of our forwards
something that we've been working on
Strauss said. Overall
the possession won the game for us today
and that's the style that we need to play more often.
The goal marked the first time the Bobcats had a lead in almost two weeks, dating back to their 4-2 win against Morehead State Sept. 19.
Ohio held Ball State to four shots on goal and avoided dangerous situations late in the game. Freshman goalkeeper Mattie Liston earned her fourth shutout of the season.
I think we were more composed
Strauss said. We were able to get the ball and connect
and that was the difference for us.
That difference was enough for the Bobcats to earn their first conference win of the season.
We're happy to get the first win and hopefully we'll just keep going from now on
Schwenke said.
