Ohio (4-4, 2-1 Mid-American Conference) won two huge MAC games over the weekend against Appalachian State (5-5, 1-2 MAC) and Bellarmine (1-6, 1-2 MAC). These two games put the Bobcats above .500 in the conference, giving them more leverage as MAC play continues to go on. It also snapped Ohio’s three-game losing streak, gaining more confidence within the team.
Ohio played Appalachian State at home on Friday and quickly hopped on a bus to travel to Louisville, Kentucky, to face off against Bellarmine. With the Bobcats having both a home and away game in the same weekend, it brought up a tough scenario, but Ohio powered through it and has a better record now.
Ohio’s defense was the main story against Appalachian State. The first quarter started very poorly, as Appalachian State almost scored instantly to go up 1-0. Three minutes into the quarter, Ohio’s defense was walked down by Appalachian State’s Carlotta Fabian, but the defense did not make the mistake again. Both teams continued to take jabs at each other's nets, but nothing would connect for either team, ending the first quarter at 1-0.
The second quarter was another stalemate for the teams, as the ball found neither net. A few shots were taken by both teams, but the defense remained strong. Ohio was also a lot more disciplined in this quarter; after allowing Appalachian State three penalty corners in the first quarter, it had zero. The second quarter ended with the same score as the first, 1-0.
Ohio brought the fireworks to the third quarter, as this is where the last goals of the game would be scored. Around eight minutes into the quarter, the Bobcats delivered their first strike with sophomore midfielder Tori Cisney to tie up the game. About five minutes later, Ohio found the net again with a score from junior forward Addy Basile. These put Ohio up 2-1 late into the third, and Appalachian State could not create a response before the buzzer rang, ending the third quarter.
Neither team scored in the fourth quarter, but Ohio was able to hold strong and not allow its lead to be compromised. Appalachian State took four shots in this quarter compared to Ohio’s zero, but nothing connected. The fourth quarter ended with the ball bouncing back between both teams a lot and a 2-1 win for Ohio, its first MAC win of the season.
Hopping off the bus in Louisville, Bellarmine was waiting for Ohio. Once again, Ohio wasn’t the first team to score, with Bellarmine having sent the ball into the back of the net courtesy of Brooke Buchanan. Even though Ohio did not score in the first quarter, both teams matched each other's shot counts and aggressively hunted the ball. The first quarter ended with a score of 1-0, with Bellarmine having control of the game.
Bellarmine’s control remained untouched in the second quarter as well. Neither team was able to score a goal. Ohio did have two decent chances by having a pair of penalty corners, but neither amounted to anything other than taking time off the clock during the play. After a quick start, Bellarmine was stagnant, with nothing going its way. The second quarter closed with a score of 1-0, Bellarmine still in the lead.
Two minutes into the third quarter, Bellarmine hit another strike, this one from Dominique Hudson. This put the score up 2-0, but Ohio didn’t take this lying down and struck right back a few minutes later. The goal scorer for Ohio was junior forward Mia Scheulen, and now Ohio was back in the game. The Bobcats quickly followed up Scheulen's goal with another one from senior forward Natalie LaFleur.
With that quick score, Ohio tied up the game at 2-2. After that flurry of goals, neither team would manage to get another score in the third quarter, but not without trying. Bellarmine’s defense tightened up and adapted to Ohio’s play. The third quarter ended tied, with both teams desperately hungry for a goal that could finish the game.
The fourth quarter was a fight for the death with 10 shots combined from each team, Ohio with six and Bellarmine with four. It was apparent that both teams' offenses were desperately shooting anything to hit the back of the net, as that goal in the fourth could very well be the last one. Ohio would score the last goal with four minutes left by Scheulen, her second goal of the game. This would seal the win for Ohio with a score of 3-2 and give them two wins this weekend.
Ohio returns to Athens next weekend to play Central Michigan and Mercyhurst, looking to extend its two-game win streak to four games and also pick up a much-needed MAC win.
