This weekend's two-game set for the Ohio women's soccer team turned out much like the cleats the players were wearing -double-knotted.
The Bobcats notched two ties to open Mid-American Conference play this weekend, 1-1 against Northern Illinois on Friday and 0-0 against Western Michigan yesterday.
Still searching for their first win since last year's MAC Tournament quarterfinal, the Bobcats (0-4-2 overall, 0-0-2 MAC) weren't satisfied with the results this weekend, but they weren't upset either.
It's better than a loss
back Carrie Kistner said. We're coming off some tough losses so we're slowly building. We would have loved to win but it's better than a loss.
Yesterday's game was a rematch of last year's MAC Tournament semifinal, in which Western Michigan ended Ohio's season with a 2-1 victory on its way to the conference championship.
The closest Ohio came to a goal was on a weak shot by forward Tiffany Horvath with three minutes left in regulation. It rolled slowly but deflected off a Broncos defender and nearly dribbled past Broncos goalkeeper Kate Perz, who had to change direction before stopping the ball just inches from the goal line.
Ohio midfielder Kendra Hornschemeier said the Bobcats had the chances they needed to win the game.
We weren't taking our opportunities and taking advantage of them
she said. We need to focus more on the chances that we have and put them away.
Friday's outcome was a replay of last season. For the second year in a row, Ohio fought Northern Illinois to a 1-1 tie, a result that displeased head coach Stacy Strauss.
Disappointed
she said Friday. We should have played better in the first half; then we would have been in better position to win it.
Just like yesterday, both teams had several chances, but each managed to convert just one. The Huskies struck first on a chaotic goal in which the ball bounced off multiple players from both teams immediately in front of the goal before Huskies back Jamie Figura tapped the ball in from a yard out.
Ohio scored in the second half when freshman forward Danielle Young headed the ball in off a free kick by back Larissa Najjar. It was Young's first goal as a Bobcat.
Yesterday, Hornschemeier said she was pleased with notching the first shutout of the season, but she was admittedly frustrated.
You work hard
and nothing comes out of it
she said. It's not really the best feeling
so just remembering how it feels and taking that into the next game ... you almost feel like you don't get credit for all that work that you did for all that time.
Strauss, however, displayed the patience and constant optimism that a coach needs.
Ties are annoying
she said, but if you're in soccer long enough
it's just something you get used to. You feel half as good about it as you would about a win
I guess. We got two points after conference play
