Despite a 3-0 loss to Kent State on Thursday, Ohio was able to sneak into the Mid-American Conference tournament as the No. 8 seed. The Bobcats benefitted from a Buffalo loss in overtime to Akron on Thursday.
Ohio qualified for its fourth consecutive tournament appearance and will play at No. 1 ranked Miami on Sunday. Kent State was too much for Ohio to handle in the regular season’s last game.
Less than two minutes into the contest, Kent State seized control of the match and didn’t relinquish it.
Senior midfielder Sara Henderson scored from 18 yards off a feed from junior forward Jessacca Gironda.
The Golden Flashes scored again less than 14 minutes later off the foot of junior defender Morgan Mah.
She scored off a free kick that she bent into the upper part of the goal.
Ohio junior goalkeeper Mattie Liston was tested throughout the match with six saves.
Ohio was whistled for offsides three times in the first half along with two yellow cards in the match, which made it hard to generate chances as Kent State dominated Ohio in the first half, recording 11 shots and held Ohio to one.
Their first shot of the match occurred in the 43rd minute. The Kent State offensive onslaught continued in the second half as the Bobcats were outshot in the game 21-7.
Minutes into the second half, Kent State scored its third goal of the match from freshman forward Briana Bartolone off a header.
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QUICK STATS:
— Kent State out-shot Ohio 21-7.
— Ohio’s first shot of the match came in the 43rd minute.
— Ohio has made the MAC tournament for the fourth straight year.
