After facing the Bobcats this weekend, the American Eagles have officially lost their style.
Ohio beat eighth-ranked American in overtime Saturday to continue its undefeated season.
The Bobcats (6-0) tied the match late, and an overtime goal led to a 2-1 win. With the victory, Ohio is off to a better start than its 1981 team, which went 5-0-1 through its first six games. The six-game winning streak to start the season is the best in program history.
“They're a very fast team,” coach Neil Macmillan said. “We tried to get our pace up during practice to where we knew theirs would be. And I think, having done all that, when we actually played the second half, we outpaced them.”
American is the second top-10 team Ohio has defeated this season. The Bobcats won against then-No. 6 Ohio State last weekend by a score of 2-1.
The team last beat two ranked squads in 2007, but has never defeated two top-10 teams in the same season.
Ohio stifled the Eagles in the first half with a strong defensive effort. American recorded two shots and two penalty corners in the first half, but could not find the back of the net. The Bobcats held the Eagles without a shot or corner through the first 35 minutes.
Early in the second half, American tallied its first shot. Ohio goaltender Jen McGill saved the attempt, but the Eagles’ Natalie Ellenberger put the rebound in the net.
Seven minutes later, OU’s Louzeth Schutte tied the game. Jessica Jue and Laura Mastro assisted on the tally.
“In the second half, I have to give (the Eagles) a lot of credit,” Macmillan said. “They made some changes, put a lot more pressure on us.”
Taylor Brown scored her fifth goal of the season off a penalty corner to end the game. Jue notched her second assist of the game on the play.
"It was extremely exciting at the end,” Macmillan said. “I have to say that, as good as they are and as well-coached as American is, this team that we have here completely [won] in every facet of the game today. At the end of the game, you saw two very, very tired teams, but the right one had the smile on their faces."
kh882310@ohiou.edu
