Not only did the RedHawks dash the Ohio football team’s undefeated season Saturday, but they also ended the soccer team’s 2012 campaign Sunday with a first-round win in the Mid-American-Conference tournament.
Miami’s game-winning and only goal came less than six minutes into the match on a long header from junior midfielder Kayla Zakrzewski. The Bobcats were held scoreless in the affair.
The loss also overshadowed the accomplishments of Ohio junior keeper Mattie Liston, who made history Sunday by becoming the Bobcats’ all-time leader in saves with 294. Liston passed Vanessa Dennis’ mark of 284 saves in the 35th minute of the game, which she finished with 15 saves — the second-highest game total in Ohio history.
To add to her list of personal accolades, Liston ended the year with 111 stops, tying Dennis’ single-season record for best in the Bobcats’ history.
She said claiming the record is a great accomplishment, but she would have liked the Bobcats to end the season on a more positive note.
“I’m proud to break the record, but only wish I had made 16 saves today and that we would have earned the win,” Liston said. “I felt the play of our entire team in the second half (should have) earned us at least a goal.”
Ohio coach Stacy Strauss said the loss was hard to take, especially because of the Bobcats’ above-average defensive play. The RedHawks outshot Ohio 30-5, almost half of which were on goal.
“It was a tough loss to take given that I felt our play, especially in the second half, should have resulted in an equalizing goal,” Strauss said. “More than that, it was especially sad to end this season that held so much promise. Mostly, it is with great sadness that we witnessed the end of the great careers of (Paige) Howard, (Veronica) Rock, (Cat) Rogers and (Erin) Schwenke.”
Miami distinctly held the upper hand in the first half, generating eight shots to the Bobcats’ one. Miami sophomore keeper Allison Norenberg made only two saves in the match. Ohio’s Maggie Murnane had the Bobcats only shot on goal in the opening half.
Ohio had an opportunity to score in the 69th minute, when a header from Murnane went wide left of the goal.
The Bobcats had another chance to equalize in the 79th minute, but senior Erin Scwenke’s shot was wide left. It was the Bobcats’ last shot of the game and the season.
mk277809@ohiou.edu
