Ohio (3-6-4 overall, 1-2-3 Mid-American Conference) will travel north to take on in-state opponent Kent State (5-4-4 overall, 3-2-1 MAC), as they look to get back on track after falling 2-0 in the most recent game at home against Ball State.
While the Golden Flashes come into this game having defeated the Akron Zips 2-1 on the road, Kent State has struggled to win games at Zoeller Field this year as the team holds a 2-2-1 record at home.
Match Information
Opponent: Kent State Golden Flashes
Location: Zoeller Field (Kent, Ohio)
Time: Thursday at 7 p.m.
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The Bobcats, similar to Kent State, struggle at home with a 1-3-3 record at Pruitt Field, but play better on the road with a 2-3-1 record in enemy territory.
Leading the way for the Golden Flashes are senior defender Kelsey Salopek and junior midfielder Samantha Miller.
Salopek and Miller both rank inside the top ten in goals in the Mid-American Conference with four. Miller ranks sixth in points with 11 and ninth in shots on goal with 13. Salopek has been the spark plug late in games for Kent State with her three game-winning goals, good for third in the MAC and 15 shots on goal, which lands her in fourth in the conference.
The Bobcats will need to convert on opportunities in order to take home the win against the Golden Flashes. The team has outshot their last two opponents 35-18, but they haven’t been able to turn those shots into goals, which has hindered its chances to win.
The Bobcats will lean on junior Jaimason Brooker and sophomore Sania Dearing to create opportunities for the Bobcats, as those have been the two players consistently creating scoring chances and shots for the offensive attack of Ohio.
Dearing’s blazing speed has allowed her to put up three goals and place eight shots on goal, both tied for the most on the team, while Brooker has been a workhorse for the Bobcats, continuing to create and generate opportunities with a team-leading 22 shots and two assists.
Senior goalkeeper Celeste Sloma looks to shut down this Kent State offense as she heads into this game with only two games of two goals or more allowed this season.
The senior has dominated in the net so far this season with three clean sheets and 49 saves for the Bobcats, keeping the defense in check and allowing Ohio to compete deeper into games.
Kent State’s goalkeeper, Leah Shaffer, has struggled in the net, leading the MAC in goals allowed with 21 and allowing an average of 1.6 per game.
Ohio needs some serious momentum as the team heads into the closing stretch of the season, and a road game against a solid team in Kent State provides a huge opportunity for a win that would be crucial for the Bobcats.
The Bobcats will look to pick up their second conference win of the season this Thursday at 7 p.m. in what projects to be an offensive battle for the last seed in the conference tournament.
