The Bobcats' postseason run was short-lived.
Ohio(9-8-2, 6-3-2 Mid-American Conference) fell to defending conference champion Toledo(11-6-3, 6-3-2 MAC) 3-1 in the quarterfinals of the MAC tournament
yesterday at Chessa Field.
Junior defender Sarah Brown scored the Bobcats' lone goal in a match characterized by Ohio missing numerous scoring chances and Toledo making the most of its opportunities.
It certainly wasn't our best performance
coach Stacy Strauss said. But I thought that we played well enough to be in the game.
On the day (Toledo) deserved the win based on the finishing alone.
Though Ohio scored only once it had plenty of tries at Toledo's goalkeeper.
Ohio equaled Toledo's shot total (11) and even had six shots on goal to the Rockets' five.
What foiled the Bobcats was a combination of good defense by Toledo and poor offensive execution by Ohio.
Less than five minutes into the match
a goal put in by senior captain Jasmine Merith was nixed by an off-sides call.
Ohio had several chances on offense doused by off-sides calls in the first period. Factor in a couple of the Bobcats' shots hitting the goal posts and it's clear how things did not go their way.
Despite the frustration
the Bobcats were still in the game midway through the second period when Brown scored on an assist from sophomore midfielder Kelsey Pichel.
But with about 10 minutes left
Toledo sealed the victory with an unassisted goal from Ali Leak.
Scoring the goal gave us a nice little kick at the end, senior captain Amy Lower said. But when they execute so well it's kind of hard to counter that.
Nothing really fell to our favor today. ... You can't really practice that
it's just how the ball falls.
What made matters worse was Ohio's usually stout defense giving up three goals, the most it has allowed since a 4-0 loss to Eastern Michigan on Sept. 25.
Goalkeeper Jess Maclean said the defense was not at its best yesterday.
Our defense has been great the entire year
Maclean said. It just didn't fall into place today. ... Personally
(it was) maybe not my best game.
nm256306@ohiou.edu
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