In the midst of implementing a revamped offense that intends to spread the field and generate more scoring opportunities, Ohio has scored exactly one goal per game so far this season.
The Bobcats have given up the same amount, though, and are becoming more adjusted to their new scheme while entering the thick of Mid-American Conference play.
Ohio coach Stacy Strauss said the new offense’s objective is to include more players in the offensive attack without tipping the Bobcats’ hand to their opponents.
So far, Ohio’s varying offensive load has been fairly successful. The Bobcats have seen scoring contributions from four players, led by senior midfielder Cat Rogers, who has five goals on the year.
Forwards Erin Schwenke, a senior, and freshman Holly Harris, along with junior midfielder Maggie Murnane, have been among Ohio’s top contributors, as well. Rogers and the supporting trio account for almost half the Bobcats’ total shots in 2012.
Harris said Strauss’ switch to a more spread out attack has benefitted the team this season, as referenced by the Bobcats’ six-game winning streak that was snapped Sunday against Central Michigan.
“Obviously it’s been doing wonders,” she said. “We had our six-game winning streak, so we weren’t scoring a lot of goals, but at least we were scoring. I think if we keep doing that it will keep working for us.”
Although Rogers is the team’s most prolific scorer, Harris and Murnane each have two goals apiece.
Rogers said the Bobcats’ new offensive attack has allowed her to spread the field and gives more players the room to put shots on net.
“I think we’ve had more chances per game,” she said. “It’s not just one-dimensional. Everyone’s on the attack, everyone’s moving, everyone’s getting different positions and we’re all interchanging.”
Harris echoed Rogers’ sentiment, saying it has been helpful to watch players find their way into supporting roles.
“Cat started it all and then we all followed,” Harris said. “We just took her role and tried to go off of that and that’s what we’ve been doing so hopefully we can keep getting more players to score and hopefully the rest of us can still do our part.”
Ohio has been outshot 137-128 so far this season, but during its six-game winning streak, the Bobcats outshot their opponents 95-55. The tides turned on Ohio Sunday, though, when the Chippewas unloaded 24 shots, as opposed to Ohio’s six.
Sophomore forward Liz Finley, sophomore midfielder Tonya Frasik and senior forward Veronica Rock, among others, have slid into solid supporting roles this season, a facet of the Bobcats’ offense that Strauss said is indispensible. The Bobcats’ bench has also played a role in keeping fresh faces on the field, though not often contributing to Ohio’s final stat sheet.
“We have a lot of players with varied strengths, so when we sub I think it’s a different look a lot of times for the opposing team to have to deal with,” Strauss said.
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