The Ohio field hockey team isn't looking back at last year's results, but taking down the reigning Mid-American Conference champions Friday was symbolic of a changed league.
The Bobcats defeated Central Michigan 3-1 for the first time on the road since 2001.
It meant so much to me
but more than that it meant a lot to our team to beat (the Chippewas) forward Torrie Albini said. It was building momentum to go into the second half of MAC play.
Ohio (7-6, 4-1 MAC), however, couldn't escape the first half of conference play without a loss, falling to Kent State 2-1 yesterday.
The Golden Flashes have now won 10-straight regular season games over the Bobcats, who had previously shut out all MAC teams before the weekend.
Ohio had last surrendered a goal Sept. 19 against Ohio State, but Central Michigan's Alicia Balanesi stopped almost 294 consecutive scoreless minutes of the Bobcats' stifling defense.
We're certainly performing better than teams I've played with in the past
although the teams have had different strengths and weaknesses
back Amanda Arnold said.
Forward Estienne Coetzee was one player who has picked up the pace recently, scoring her sixth goal of the year against Central Michigan. The sophomore is tied for the team lead and is tied for fourth in the MAC.
She's starting to be consistent
which is really good
Albini said. I think her role has really picked up as a leading scoring
definitely something that our team needed.
Albini scored Ohio's only goal against the Golden Flashes and also added to the lead over the Chippewas during a penalty stroke.
She just steps up there with confidence and buries them
coach Neil Macmillan said of Albini's play on penalty strokes.
She's doing very well with that
although I'd like to try to get a few of the younger players involved in that if we have future opportunities and we've got a lead.
Kent State's strategy was to shoot early and often, and they got on the board first when Liz Fettrow scored off a rebound at 12:27. Natalie Barrett then opened the second half with the winning goal.
Nevertheless, Ohio's win over Central Michigan keeps the Bobcats in first place in the conference.
