The results on the scoreboard did not tell the entire story.
Ohio played two close matches this weekend but managed only a split, losing to Miami 1-0 in double overtime Sunday and beating Ball State 1-0 on Friday.
The Bobcats (7-6-2, 4-2-2 Mid-American Conference) dominated stretches of each match. They outshot the Cardinals (4-11-0, 2-6 MAC) 15-5 and held an advantage in possession time, but could not score until late.
In a scoreless game, junior midfielder Jackie Hanson's shot was stopped by Cardinals goalie Nicole Wood. But sophomore forward Laura Dieter deflected the rebound off Wood and into the net for the game's only goal in the 71st minute.
I was in the right place at the right time
Dieter said. It could have been any of us; we just needed to all be there for it.
Senior goalkeeper Jess MacLean made one save to pick up her second-consecutive shutout and fourth of the season.
Miami provided a challenge for the Bobcats, but the game was always in the balance.
The teams played a tight match that remained scoreless through regulation time. The Bobcats controlled both overtime periods, outshooting Miami 5-1 in extra time. They were two minutes away from earning a draw when the game changed.
An Ohio foul in the 108th minute gave the RedHawks (8-6-1, 4-3-1 MAC) a free kick in the attacking third. Redshirt senior Allison Berkey sent the ball far down the field and forward Sara Lund headed it past MacLean for the game-winning goal.
The Bobcats looked on in disbelief as Miami celebrated its first win at Chessa Field since 2005.
Miami has great individual players coach Stacy Strauss said. And if you let them in the game for that long they're going to make you pay
and that's what happened.
The loss halted Ohio's six-game unbeaten streak. Lund's goal was the first allowed by MacLean since the first half of the Bowling Green game last Friday - a span of more than 300 scoreless minutes.
We don't want to get down from this and keep dwelling on it
defender Sarah Brown said. We'll go back (tomorrow) and work on finishing
work on defending and make sure we don't dwell on this outcome.
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Sports
Vince Nairn
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