Ohio has two players on the roster from beyond the northern border of the United States. Senior Cat Rogers and freshman Brieanna Charlesbois are at different stages in their respective careers.
Rogers has excelled recently for the Bobcats. Throughout her Bobcat career she has amassed only six goals. This season, Rogers has already netted four goals. Rogers has eight points already this season, tying her career high in points
Ohio coach Stacy Strauss said the coaches tried to tailor some of the formation around Rogers while removing some of her defensive responsibilities.
“Cat’s a great player and I think she’s finally playing in a way she realizes how great she is,” Strauss said. “It’s fun to see her get the reward of scoring goals because she’s as passionate or more passionate about the game than anyone I’ve ever worked with.”
Rogers is cognizant that this is her last year in Athens but that sense of urgency might be the cause for the uptick in production.
“I think I try to come prepared every year but possibly because it’s my last year you come to it a little differently maybe and you know it’s your last go-around so you want to give everything you’ve got,” Rogers said.
In 2010, when fellow Canadian Rachael Goulding graduated, the tradition of helping out the other teammates from Canada was passed to Rogers.
“I know when I came Rachael Goulding was here,” Rogers said. “She’s a Canadian, she’s brought me under her wing so I’ve tried to provide that for Bri because I know it’s hard coming from so far away not really knowing anyone.”
Charlebois said it helped to see Rogers doing well in the United States. She has family that attends college in the United States so Rogers’ success was not a deciding factor in her choice to come to America.
“I guess it was kind of comforting to know that she came here and she was doing well, but it wasn’t a deciding factor,” Charlesbois said.
Charlesbois said the team has done a good job embracing her and helping her through her freshman year.
“It’s still taking me a bit of time to adjust and everything,” Charlesbois said. “It’s a little bit different style that I’m used to so still getting used to that, but the entire team’s pretty good. If you have a question all the girls are pretty much there and the coaches are really easy to approach.”
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