On Sunday afternoon, the Ohio Bobcats (4-7-1, 1-4-1 in the Mid-American Conference) hosted the Kent State Golden Flashes (3-8-2, 2-4-0 in the MAC), where they lost 4-0 to Kent State.
The Golden Flashes would go on the attack early in the 7th minute with a bottom left shot that was saved by freshman Aya Rammel. Kent State came back seconds later and fired a shot wide.
Three minutes later, Kent State rushed down, sending a shot that Rammel swatted away for the second save of the game for Ohio. Rammel would get some help from her defense seconds later to kick a ball out of bounds.
In the 13th minute, Rammel continued to lock down the net with a fantastic high-flying save, forcing the Flashes into a shot over the net for a goal kick. Kent State finally broke through with a long pass to freshman Lila Simon to give them a 1-0 lead near the end of the 15th minute.
The Bobcats would push the ball into Kent State territory in the 17th minute with several crosses, but to no avail as their defense held strong, forcing several throw-ins, and Kent slowly regained possession.
The Bobcats would send their first shot of the game from senior Jaimaison Brooker that would sail wide left of the net in the 24th minute.
The Bobcats brought the pressure back in the 30th minute, charging up the middle of the field with grad student Eve Berish sending a long cross into the box that was fielded by senior Kate Robinson, who sent a high-flying shot that just went over the center bar for a Kent goal kick.
Ohio was given a golden opportunity with a Kent foul just outside the box. Freshman Meaghan Cochrane swung a low bottom-left shot that was saved by the keeper.
In the 37th minute, the Bobcats continued to pressure the Kent keeper with a corner kick. Ohio sent a high cross to the left post that would be headed by junior Lillian Weller and fell just left of the net.
Kent State responded with a long pass from Allison Burkey through the Ohio defense to Maya Justice, who would send a shot past Rammel to extend the Golden Flashes' lead to 2-0 in the 40th minute. Both teams headed into half with Kent State leading 2-0.
Opening the second half, Ohio got first touch looking to cut the deficit in half. After a long pass to Kent’s keeper, the Flashes would push the tempo, sending a long shot into the hands of Rammel.
The Bobcats would push the tempo back in the 47th minute with Cochrane streaking down the field, passing the ball to freshman Camille Francis, who sent a bottom-left shot that was saved by the keeper.
Kent would respond three minutes later with a bottom center shot of theirs that was saved by Rammel. They’d go speed back down the field a minute later, booting a shot wide right of the net.
Kent State would finally push through with a long pass toward the net that was deflected by Rammel but rebounded by the Flashes to extend their lead to 3-0 in the 53rd minute.
In the 55th minute, the Bobcats looked to respond with a corner kick opportunity. Ohio would fail to respond, sending the cross far right of the net, which was kicked away by the Flashes.
In the 60th minute, Kent would boom a shot bottom center that would fall into the hands of Rammel. They continued to put pressure on the Bobcats, sending back-to-back shots.
Charging down the field, the Bobcats set themselves up with a corner kick opportunity off a deflected cross out of bounds. They’sent it wide of the net. The Bobcats kept fighting with another corner kick in the 66th minute, but Kent State continued to hold strong.
Nearing the end of the 73rd minute, the Golden Flashes continued to find open opportunities with Kiyomi McCausland dribbling left of the box and firing a beautiful high shot into the back right corner of the net to extend their lead to 4-0.
In the 76th minute, Ohio pushed deep into the box, firing two consecutive shots that were deflected away by Kent. The Bobcats flew down the field led by sophomore Kiley Bruce, who sent a bottom center shot that was saved by the keeper.
Kent State sent a last-second surge toward sophomore Bella Wyatt, who would smack the ball away for her lone save of the match as the Bobcats fell 4-0. Ohio will look to bounce back Thursday as they travel to Miami for the Battle of the Bricks.
