Immediately before yesterday's soccer game, Ohio's six senior players received flowers and hugs during Senior Day ceremonies, which are held every season before the team's final regularly scheduled home appearance.
Ninety minutes later, the Bobcats had secured another victory.
With a 3-2 win against Eastern Michigan yesterday, Ohio (8-4-3 overall, 7-0-3 Mid-American Conference) kept its hold on first place in the MAC and guaranteed itself at least a No. 4 seed and a first-round home game in the conference tournament. The game marked the end of Ohio's record shutout streak, but only after extending it one game further with a 0-0 tie Friday against Central Michigan (8-4-3, 6-1-3 MAC).
It was a nice win for the seniors on Senior Day
said sophomore forward Tiffany Horvath. Hopefully we could host the tournament here.
Ohio goalkeeper Michelle Meglaughlin caught an early-morning flight to return from her brother's wedding in Florida and start yesterday's game. She revealed pink nail polish still on her fingers beneath her gloves after the game and said that she wasn't upset about the shutout streak ending.
It actually relieved a lot of pressure she said.
Her first goal allowed since Sept. 12 came quickly, just 8:05 into yesterday's game when Eastern Michigan midfielder Shannon McIntyre put in a high shot off Meglaughlin's hands.
That's probably the first goal of the season I've given up that was over my head and it wasn't fun. I wish I could press rewind
she said.
The Bobcats didn't let the goal get them down. Just more than a minute later, forward Natalie Grein evened the score with a shot off a rebound from Eagles goalkeeper Nikki Allen. Horvath put Ohio up 2-1 later in the half on a breakaway pass from midfielder Gina Siedentopf.
It was great that we came back within five minutes and got the equalizer
Horvath said. We came from behind and showed that we're that experienced and that nothing fazes us.
Early in the second half, the Eagles (9-4-3, 5-3-2 MAC) evened the score when back Lauren Clyne headed a corner kick into the Ohio goal in the 59th minute. The score remained tied until the 67th minute, when Ohio forward Stephanie Crosby drew a foul in the Eagles goal box. Ohio was awarded a penalty kick, and Horvath put the ball into the left corner for the game-winner, her sixth of the season and ninth goal overall.
Friday's scoreless draw against Central Michigan was an unsurprising result of the 1-2 match-up between teams both on lengthy shutout streaks. The teams battled for 110 minutes through the cold wind and rain, and Ohio outshot the Chippewas 14-7 on goal, but neither team could muster a goal. Ohio backup goalkeeper Melissa Parra filled in for the absent Meglaughlin, making six saves to record Ohio's ninth straight shutout, a MAC record and eighth-best in NCAA history.
After yesterday's game, however, coach Stacy Strauss said Eastern Michigan might be the better of the weekend's opponents.
I'd actually be more afraid to face Eastern Michigan again
she said. There's a reason they've scored more goals than any team in the MAC.
Ohio is unbeaten in its last 11 games, and could become the first team in MAC history to record an undefeated conference regular season.
To do that, the Bobcats will have to avoid a loss next weekend when they visit Kent State at 3 p.m. Friday and wrap up the MAC season at Buffalo at 1 p.m. Sunday.
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Joe Rominiecki
