Luke O'Roark

Staff Writer Luke O'Roark looks at some takeaways from the Bobcats 1-0 loss against the Hoosiers on Saturday. 

Sitting at 2-4 on the season, staff writer Luke O’Roark looks at five takeaways from Ohio’s 1-0 loss to Indiana on Saturday:

 

  1. Ohio is going to grind out games this year: During their three game home stand, the Bobcats looked like a team that looked more comfortable relying on their defense than their offense. Goalie Brittany Walker and the backline only allowed one goal against Ohio State, Longwood and Indiana, as Ohio's defense has been stout so far this year. In terms of offense, Ohio has scored just four goals in six games, as three of them came in Ohio’s 4-3 loss to Boston University on Aug. 31. During the preseason, coach Neil Macmillan said the team wouldn’t be “flashy” and not rely on one or two scorers to carry the offensive load and that claim has been true thus far in the season. Two freshmen, Maria Russell and Megan Silveira, have scored three-fourths of the Bobcats points this season.

  2. The Bobcat’s strength of schedule reflects their record: Even though they are under .500, the Bobcats really aren’t an inferior team. Ohio may have some offensive woes, but I think their poor record has more to do with the fact that they play some tough opponents this season. Ohio has had to play nationally ranked Syracuse (No. 5) and Indiana (No. 17), ACC teams like Wake Forest, Louisville and PAC-12 opponent California. That’s a challenging slate.

  3. Adele Sammons will be an All-MAC player this year and in 2015: Sammons has only scored once so far this season, but her stick work has been tremendous for Ohio. Against Indiana, she began multiple offensive breaks with her superb footwork and coordination. Expect Sammons to get some recognition by years end, as she has been an underrated contributor for Ohio.

  4. The freshmen class is growing up fast: Macmillan said after Ohio's loss on Saturday that they are very young on the forward line. I won’t beat a dead horse here, but Ohio’s offense has had trouble because it’s fueled by the youthful core of Rachel Kho, Cassie Rich, Maria Russell and Elana Curley. There will be growing pains, of course, but this core could easily be the future of the program.

  5. Brittany Walker is playing some of the best minutes of her career as a Bobcat: Walker, who was named MAC Defensive Player of the Week last week, has really kept the Bobcats competitive during their offensive drought. The goal she gave up against the Hoosiers wasn’t entirely her fault, as the shot went weak side after a scramble in front of the net. Without her, Ohio could be looking much worse.

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