Ohio (3-4-2 overall, 1-0-1 Mid-American Conference) hosted Bowling Green (6-1-2 overall, 1-0-1 MAC), tying the Falcons 1-1. Emotions were high as both teams were fighting in the Turn It Gold game for donations.
Ohio coach Aaron Rodgers commented on the importance of playing for this cause. “It touches everybody, because it raises awareness for childhood cancer,“ Rodgers said. "My son had a very good friend in elementary who passed, and he was one of the first recipients of the bravery award and the mural at Larry’s Dawg House honors Andrew and Paul, and that really touches my heart.”
The Falcons attacked first at the seven-minute mark with a misplaced cross that was saved by senior Celeste Sloma. Bobcats responded at the 12th minute with an aggressive steal moving into Bowling Green territory, but a pass deflected out of bounds slowed momentum.
After being awarded a free kick, junior Jaimason Brooker placed a shot bottom left, saved by O’Malley. Bowling Green looked to answer back with a corner kick that was nabbed by Sloma. Sloma continued to lock down the net with another save on a bottom left shot from sophomore Lauren Mahoney. After a Bobcats yellow card, Sloma picked up her fourth save of the game on a shot from junior Gabby Lamparty.
“She’s a leader on and off the field as she’s grown so much since her freshman year after playing significant minutes for the injured first team all-conference goalie Sam Wexel,” Rodgers said of Sloma. “She’s grown so much as a leader and someone that can organize and communicate.”
The Bobcats answered back in the 42nd minute with a long shot from graduate student Quintin Tostevin that was saved by O’Malley. The first half ended with both teams locked at 0-0.
The Bobcats kicked off the second half with possession. The Falcons opened the half with a top save by Sloma on a top right shot from junior Isabella Mazzafarro. The Bobcats turned up the heat, putting constant pressure on the ball in Bowling Green territory which created multiple deflections allowing the team to create more possession opportunities.
“Our defensive organization is something we take seriously,” Rodgers said. “If we get the right people into the right places, we force the opposition into where we want them and where we can win and counter the ball.”
In the 58th minute, Bowling Green was awarded a free kick, but the Bobcat defense continued to hold strong by forcing the ball out of bounds. The Bobcat defense continued their aggressive play with a great body deflection in the box to force another Falcon throw in.
The Bobcats continued to push the ball into the box on multiple opportunities, but the Falcon defense wouldn’t give up. The pressure got to the Falcons as the Bobcats broke the tie in the 77th minute with a goal from sophomore Iro Fakinou off an assist from Brooker.
“Iro is fantastic on the ball and understands how to attack and to create and bring people in the attack,” Rodgers commented on Fakinou’s play style.
Bowling Green responded back with a header goal from Lamparty in the 82nd minute, tying the game 1-1. The Bobcats responded with an aggressive attack that was pushed wide left by the Falcons' defense. Brooker placed a shot just over the bar in the 87th minute as they looked to swing momentum in the closing minutes.
The Bobcats were outshot 9-6 but the defense stepped up including Sloma who nabbed five of the nine shots. Brooker led the team with three shots and an assist while Fakinou added her second goal of the season.
The Bobcats have a quick turnaround as they will be hosting Akron for a senior day Sunday at 1 p.m.
