This weekend the Bobcats will find out exactly how fast a New York minute is.
Ohio (5-6-4, 2-3-3 Mid-American Conference) arrived in the Empire State last night for its match today against Buffalo. The soccer team will promptly return to Athens following its first-ever one-game weekend road trip in conference play.
This is something entirely new
to have split weekends said coach Stacy Strauss.
The change in scheduling came about when MAC teams adopted divisional play at the beginning of the season. Previously, Strauss said, a team and its travel partner always played two home or away matches in a weekend.
But this meant some teams played up to seven road games in one season, as Ohio did in 2009. Under the new format, squads travel for five or six matches every year.
Hence, the Bobcats must make a special trip to play their second-farthest conference opponent. In place of their typical afternoon practice, the Bobcats left The Convo on a team bus yesterday at about 3:30 p.m. After practice Oct. 20, Strauss said some players watch video from the Bobcats' last game while others complete schoolwork during the trip.
Typically on a bus trip that is that long
we may watch a movie as well
she said.
The team stopped for lunch in Canton at about 6:30 p.m. and then continued on to Buffalo, arriving at its hotel before midnight.
We ensure that all the hotels have wireless Internet so (the players) can get online and turn in assignments and get lecture notes and everything that they might need
Strauss said.
At 12:30 p.m. today, Ohio will do a walk-through at UB Stadium, the synthetic-turf home to the Bulls' football, track and field and soccer teams. Strauss said her team will prepare for playing on the turf in cold conditions.
It's typically miserable weather in Buffalo
so we have to be prepared for everything
she said. It could snow. It wouldn't surprise me.
The forecast for the opening touch is 47 degrees with a slim chance of precipitation.
The Bobcats will eat lunch as a team and hold a pregame meeting before the match.
We'll hand out scouting reports
Strauss said. We'll talk about the other team
and then we'll reiterate whatever we focused on throughout the week in practice that we want to see from our players in that game.
After the game, Ohio will board the bus for Athens. Many players continue studying or catch up on sleep while the coaching staff looks over game footage, Strauss said. The Bobcats will take tomorrow off after travelling 800 miles (and running a few more) in less than 36 hours. Kent State comes to town Sunday.
Our emphasis is really on ourselves and ensuring that we play to the best of our ability
Strauss said. If we do that
