Ohio (5-6, 3-2 Mid-American Conference) thoroughly outclassed Central Michigan (1-12 overall, 0-5 MAC) picking up an important conference road win.
Both teams began the opening quarter slow trading fouls in the early minutes of the first quarter. Central Michigan surrendered a penalty corner five minutes into the first, resulting in the game's first goal by freshman midfielder Pauline Hartlieb.
The rest of the quarter would follow the same trend as Central Michigan would foul Ohio five more times and concede two more penalty corners. Unfortunately for the Bobcats, they could not find the back of the net during the rest of the quarter. Ohio’s defense was impressive early as well, not allowing a single shot from Central Michigan.
The second quarter started fast for Ohio, as it was able to put up two shots in the first two minutes, although neither was able to stretch the team’s lead. Ohio’s attack was relentless at the start of the second quarter, as the aggressive offensive attack was able to generate three more shots and another penalty corner.
Central Michigan’s defense bent but wouldn’t break however as sophomore goalie Maja Halasz was able to make three saves. That was until five minutes before the half when junior midfielder Merle Kal extended the Bobcats’ lead coming off of a penalty corner. Ohio displayed dominance throughout the opening half. Through the first 30 minutes of play, Ohio led 2-0 and outshot Central Michigan 14-0.
The third quarter was when Ohio truly began to close out the game. Hartlieb scored her second goal of the afternoon coming off of an assist by Noa Desmaretz less than a minute after the break. Ohio would follow up its fast start with a slick goal from Katelyn Whittle. She put a move on the defender and snuck the ball past the goalie for Ohio’s fourth goal of the game and her 11th of the year.
The Chippewas fought back however, notching their first shots of the game with intense offensive effort about ten minutes through the third. Ohio’s goalie Macy Lotze saved all five Central Michigan shots however, and Whittle would soon after score her second goal of the day, assisted by Desmaretz for her second of the day as well.
The fourth quarter was about the defensive side for Ohio. Central Michigan showed no quit in trying to break through the Ohio defense to score its first goal of the game. The Chippewas put up three shots in the closing quarter, but backup Goalie Gwen Hershberger and the Bobcat defense were there to stop them yet again. Hershberger saved all three shots from Central Michigan in the 4th quarter, closing the book on a 5-0 shutout win.
Ohio showed its potential during the entirety of its win against Central Michigan with Whittle, Lotze and several of their teammates providing significant contributions in the win.
