Ohio (3-5, 0-2 in the Mid-American Conference) travels to Akron (4-4-1, 0-1-1 in MAC) this weekend to take on the Zips, searching for their first win in conference play.
Ohio struggled to get past UMass in a rainy 0-2 loss at Logan High School on Sunday. The Bobcats outshot the Minutemen 16-15, however, the team has continued to give up easy opportunities.
The Bobcats have allowed penalty goals in back-to-back contests, including the game-winning goal against Western Michigan University Broncos last Thursday in a close game. The Bobcats offense has been explosive this season, holding the second most goals and fourth most shots in the MAC.
As for Akron, they head into this game coming off a 2-1 loss against Miami to open MAC play and a 1-1 with Bowling Green. Akron sits near the bottom of the MAC with 95 shots but makes the most out of their opportunities, scoring 13 goals, good for fifth.
Redshirt junior Rachel Wenzel is the player to watch for the Zips, sitting fourth in goals and points with five goals and ten points. Wenzel scored the Zips lone goal in their loss to Miami.
The Zips senior keeper Sara Bower has been consistent, allowing only nine goals on 82 shots, including two shutouts. As a four-year starter for the Zips, she’s accumulated over 178 saves, eight shutouts, and a career save percentage of .733
The Bobcats will look to play through senior leader Jamaison Brooker. Brooker has been magnificent this season, leading the team in goals (3), shots (21), points (7) and shots on goal (13).
She looks to orchestrate the offense through juniors Sania Dearing and Iro Fakinou. Fakinou scored her first goal of the season against the Broncos. She’s tied for the second most points with four, alongside two assists and 13 shots on the season.
Dearing has one of three game-winning goals this season for the Bobcats, while helping open up holes with her blazing speed, having eleven shots and six on net. Her .545 shot-on-goal percentage sits near the top of the pack.
The Bobcats can get back on track with a win against a slower-paced Zips offense at FirstEnergy Stadium. Kickoff starts at 1 p.m. Sunday, and the game will also be streaming on ESPN+ as the Bobcats reach for their first conference win of the season.
