Ohio (1-7 overall) fell to 1-7 after a 4-2 loss to the Davidson Wildcats (5-3) in North Carolina on Sunday.
The game caps off a brutal road stretch for the Bobcats, with all of their first eight games taking place on the road across the country, heading to Kentucky, Missouri, California and North Carolina.
Both teams entered this game very familiar with the matchup, having played each other in each of the last four seasons and six times in the last eight years. Ohio had taken the matchup five of those times, with Davidson’s lone win in 2023. All but one of their matchups had come down to a one-goal differential, meaning both teams could expect a close game.
Davidson opened the contest with a strong offensive attack, registering five shots on goal in the first four and a half minutes, the last of which would find the net for Hannah Merritt’s first goal of the season, putting the Wildcats up 1-0. Matilda Collins would double the lead by scoring the Wildcats’ second goal of the game off a penalty corner five minutes later, making the score 2-0.
The Bobcats would turn the tide in the second period, as Ava Florence assisted Katie Cole for her second goal in as many games. Natalie Lafleur would score her first goal of the season six minutes later, tying the score 2-2.
The score was still tied entering halftime, but would not remain that way for long, as Davidson’s leading scorer, Sib Naaktgeboren, scored her tenth goal of the season just one minute into the third period to put the Wildcats up 3-2. Naaktgeboren scored again with two minutes remaining in the period, off assists from Eva van der Kooi and Celie Constantine, making it a two-goal lead again for Davidson.
The Bobcats did lock down on defense afterward and would not allow Davidson to register another shot for the final 16 minutes of the game. However, Davidson’s defense was also highly effective, and Ohio could not get a shot on goal for the remainder of the game, sealing the Bobcats’ fate in a 4-2 loss.
The second period was easily the highlight of the game for the Bobcats, outshooting Davidson 4-3 and turning a two-goal deficit into a tie game. All three of Ohio’s shots on goal came during this period as well, and goalie Ash Stephenson saved three Davidson shots during the period. However, Davidson was clearly the stronger team throughout the other three periods, allowing them to take home the win.
Although this puts the Bobcats at a 1-7 record, all of their games have been on the road, many of which were against tough non-conference opponents. Of their seven losses, four have been by two goals or less, so they are clearly a team capable of being competitive.
The Bobcats will play their first home game Friday, Sept. 26, as they look to defend the new turf of Pruitt Field and pull off an upset against the undefeated UMass Minutewomen.
