Neil Macmillan’s field hockey team has two games left before beginning the Mid-American Conference tournament Nov. 4.
Although he acknowledged that his team suffered some bumps and bruises last weekend, Macmillan said he has no intentions of allowing Ohio (15-3, 8-0 MAC) to take its foot off the gas pedal.
“There’s no reason to,” he said. “We want to make sure that we’re on top of our game. Everyone who’s healthy will play.”
The Bobcats have locked in the top seed in the upcoming tournament.
As the rest of the student body will be getting itself ready for Halloween, the team plays Kent State at noon Friday on the road.
Two days later, the same students will be recovering from the weekend’s festivities, but the field hockey team will play Central Michigan in Athens at 1 p.m.
The Bobcats have beaten both teams already this season. They defeated the Golden Flashes 2-0 Oct. 14 and bested the Chippewas a week earlier, 2-0.
Their undefeated conference record and the manner in which they’ve gone about their business has other MAC coaches heaping on the praise.
“I have been impressed with how consistent the OU team has been,” Central Michigan coach Cristy Freese said. “They have the best offense and best defense in the conference, so it is easy to see why they won the MAC regular-season championship.
“Neil does a great job in preparing his team.”
Like Freese, Ball State coach Beth Maddox also had some nice things to say, especially about Macmillan.
“All I can tell you is that Ohio is an exceptional team,” Maddox said. “They are knowledgeable about the game and their experience on the field really shows.
“I have a lot of respect for Neil and what he has done with the program.”
Six Bobcats have taken home MAC Player of the Week awards, the most recent of which was Laura Mastro.
And though the Bobcats currently hold a perfect MAC record, Central Michigan is the only other team to have a conference record above .500.
But Macmillan isn’t thinking about finishing undefeated. As it has been all year, his motto encourages the Bobcats to take it one game at a time.
“I don’t think it’s something we’re going to worry about,” Macmillan said. “If we do end up undefeated through the season, then great.
“The objective is to win the next game, and if you do that and keep winning the next game, you’re going to be fine.”
me811508@ohiou.edu
