The Ohio Bobcats (4-6-1, 2-4-1 in the Mid-American Conference) traveled to Broadview Stadium to take on the University of Buffalo Bulls (4-4-5, 1-2-2 MAC) in a hard-fought 1-0 win for the Bobcats.
The Bulls pushed the tempo immediately, forcing a shot that went out left of the net 51 seconds into the game. Both teams went back and forth, fighting for momentum until the seventh minute.
In the seventh minute, after two fouls from the Bulls, they had retained possession and pushed the ball into Ohio territory where freshman Ayla Rammel snagged her first save of the game on a bottom center shot off the foot of Maya Galko.
The Bobcats slowly pushed the ball into Buffalo territory, setting up their offense looking to open up pockets in the Bulls' defense. In the eleventh minute, freshman Francis Camille found an open pocket, sending in the Bobcats' first shot of the game. However, it went into the gloves of two-time MAC Goalie of the Year Lexie Thompson.
Thompson kicked the ball deep into Bobcat territory, where the Bulls ran into the box, sending in a shot of their own that flew over the net to set up a goal kick for the Bobcats headed into the 13th minute.
The Bobcats brought an aggressive offensive front as they headed into the 15th minute with back-to-back offside calls on the Bobcats. They would regain that momentum immediately with a Bulls foul a minute later.
In the 17th minute, senior Jaimaison Brooker fired a hard center shot into the hands of Thompson. The Bobcats proved relentless as six minutes later, junior Allison Hooks sent another bottom center shot that was knocked away by Thompson.
After both teams put fresh legs on the pitch, Buffalo responded in the 36th minute with a shot that was over the net. Both teams headed into halftime tied at 0-0.
The Bobcats opened the second half with possession of the kickoff. Brooker took no time putting pressure on the Bulls, slicing through the defense and sending her second shot of the game into the hands of Thompson for her fourth save of the game.
After back-to-back fouls from Ohio, Buffalo responded with a shot of their own in the 49th minute from Laiken Kiser that was deflected by the Bobcats' defense. After some back-and-forth battle for possession for both sides, the Bobcats were gifted a golden opportunity with a corner kick near the end of the 56th minute.
As the Bobcats lined up toward the net, a long cross was sent in toward freshman Lauren Hoog, who struck a shot wide right of the net. After some substitutions from both teams and two fouls on Ohio, the Bobcats gave away another scoring opportunity in the 66th minute.
With fresh legs on the field, the Bobcats passed the ball around against Buffalo's aggressive defense. After a quick pass to senior Kate Robinson, she smashed a shot over the bar for a Bulls corner kick.
Both teams would continue to put fresh legs on the field as neither team would give an inch in an aggressive back-and-forth battle. In the 78th minute, Brooker battled through the tough Buffalo defense, sending her third shot into the hands of Thompson.
With back-to-back fouls from Ohio, Buffalo slowly gained momentum into Bobcat territory as they snaked their way into the box with a top right shot that sailed over the bar for an Ohio goal kick with eight minutes to go.
Ohio pushed the tempo, going on the attack where they were awarded an equalizing opportunity in the 84th minute with a corner kick. With the Buffalo crowd silent, Ohio swung a cross into the box, where freshman Meaghan Cochrane smashed in the equalizer for the Bobcats with her third goal of the season to give the Bobcats a 1-0 lead in the 85th minute.
Buffalo would not go down without a fight, storming down the field a minute later and firing a shot that was knocked away by Rammel. The Bulls were awarded two more opportunities with back-to-back corner kicks, but the Bobcats’ offense continued to stonewall the Bulls as they held firm, deflecting the Bulls' final shot with seconds to go to win 1-0.
Ohio finished the game with eight shots, six of which were on target. As for Rammel, she’d grab two saves on the only shots on goal as she’d earn her first shutout of her career. Cochrane's third goal of the season put her tied for the most goals on the team alongside Brooker and Camille while holding the highest shot percentage at .429 and the shot-on-goal percentage of .714.
The Bobcats look to carry over their offensive efficiency at Chessa Field as they host Kent State Sunday at 1 p.m.
