After falling behind early in the match, the Bobcats regrouped in the second half and fought back to earn a 1-1 draw against Northern Kentucky (3-0-3) Thursday night at Chessa Field.
The draw ended a two-game skid for Ohio (2-3-1) and provided a spark of momentum heading into the final stretch before conference play. While the Bobcats were unable to secure the win, their effort in the second half showcased a level of resilience and composure that had been missing in recent games.
Ohio dictated much of the pace, outshooting Northern Kentucky 16-8 and producing a flurry of late chances that nearly turned the result in their favor. But despite the statistical dominance, the Bobcats were forced to chase for a chance after the visitors scored first.
In the 16th minute, forward Erykah Cornett pounced on a clever feed from Meghan Belrose and slotted a finish that put the Norse up 1-0. The goal gave NKU confidence and forced Ohio into a position it has struggled with this season: playing from behind.
From the Bobcats, forward Anna Burchett was active throughout the first half, generating several promising looks and finishing with five shots on the night. But the Norse back line held strong, and Ohio entered the halftime break still trailing by a goal.
Head coach Aaron Rodgers’ adjustments after the interval shifted the game in Ohio’s favor. The Bobcats came out with renewed energy, tightening their midfield shape and pushing the ball wide to stretch Northern Kentucky’s defense. The tactical changes quickly paid off, as Ohio began to control possession and pin the Norse deeper into their own half.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 70th minute when sophomore midfielder Iro Fakinou, who entered the match from the bench, found herself in space at the top of the box and hit a well-struck shot that beat goalkeeper Megan Gessner to level the score at 1-1.
Fakinou’s impact was immediate and crucial. In just 28 minutes of action she fired four shots, three of which were on target, giving life to Ohio’s attack and swinging the momentum firmly in the Bobcat’s direction.
Ohio continued to press for a winner in the closing stages. Defender Rayann Pruss twice tested Gessner with long-range efforts, while Burchett and Fakinou both had dangerous opportunities turned aside. Gessner, however, stood tall for the Norse, finishing with seven saves on the night and frustrating Ohio’s attackers with a series of timely stops.
On the other end, Ohio’s defense responded strongly after conceding the opener. Goalkeeper Celeste Sloma faced only two shots on frame, making one save, as the back line tightened its coverage and denied Northern Kentucky space in dangerous areas. After Cornett’s early strike, the Norse were limited to just two shots on target the rest of the match.
While the Bobcats were disappointed not to come away with all three points, the performance offered several positives. Ohio controlled the tempo for long stretches, showed greater depth with strong contributions from substitutes like Fakinou and Kate Robinson, and displayed the grit to climb back from a deficit early on in the match.
Statistically, Ohio also held the edge in nearly every category: a 5-3 advantage in corner kicks, seven fouls drawn and twice as many shots as Northern Kentucky.
For a team still searching for consistency, Thursday’s draw may prove to be a turning point. Instead of wilting after conceding early, the Bobcats responded with their most complete half of soccer this season — a sign of growth as the Mid-American Conference schedule looms.
Ohio will look to carry that second-half momentum into Sunday’s matchup, eager to turn effort into results and establish confidence ahead of league play.
