The Bobcats lost an all-conference player when Marcy Dull graduated last year, but before they had time to miss her, Taylor Brown emerged as her successor.
Dull's departure left an 11-goal, 25-point gap in Ohio's offense. Yet during her first season as a regular starter, Brown, a sophomore, has shouldered the scoring load.
A center forward, Brown leads Ohio with seven goals and 14 points. With more than half of the season left, she is on pace to pass her former teammate on the stat sheet.
Brown has truly had a breakout year, for at this time last season she was riding the bench.
I didn't (expect a big role) because we had players like (Dull) and Katelyn Shelley who were great offenders and always put the ball in the net
Brown said. But this year I definitely expected a lot more.
Brown struggled last season, as many freshmen do, to get acclimated to the speed and talent of collegiate field hockey. She scored one goal in six starts throughout 19 matches.
But after an off-season spent meticulously learning the game plan, she has begun to fulfill her expectations.
I worked hard over the summer to get in shape said Brown, who is the fifth field hockey player in her family. I just came into the season with a lot more confidence than I had as a freshman.
Coach Neil Macmillan said Brown's progress is part of maturing as a player.
She's getting into the attack a lot more this year than she did last year Macmillan said. It's part of being a sophomore. You start to grow up
you learn the system
you learn to play at this next level.
Brown's 39 shots are tops for both the team and the Mid-American Conference. She's also tied for second in the MAC in goals.
Brown was named the MAC Offensive Player of the Week Sept. 15, in part because of her game-winning goal against Indiana Sept. 11. It was the first official recognition of her prolific season.
I'm really happy with everything
Brown said. It's been going in my favor. It's great to have accomplishments like MAC Player of the Week.
Brown, who also played softball in high school, has distinguished herself as having one of the hardest shots on the team. During practices at Pruitt Field, she stands out for being the player hitting the ball with more force than any of her teammates.
That toughness was one of the reasons Macmillan recruited her out of Caravel Academy in Bear, Del., where she was a Second Team All-American and twice an All-Region selection.
Seeing (Brown) as a high school player
she could hit the ball a lot harder than most girls
Macmillan said. She had the ability to read the defense.
I knew she had (the ability to score) in her. We saw flickers at the end of last season. ... I'm very happy to see her grow in that way.
As Brown's role on and off the field develops
she has modeled herself after the player whose absence gave her the chance to thrive.
(Dull) just always went after it and never gave up, Brown said. She was a great personality on the field, too. She really kept the energy up as a team.
Brown said she talks regularly to Dull
who sometimes gives her advice. And she laughed at the thought of one day being as good as her role model.
Yeah, I hope so, she said.,",2,Sports,Nathaniel Maund,",",",",",","
32347,2010-09-23 01:03:00,Dairy Barn photo montage
