Ohio's offense used some help from a freshman to break through.
Freshman forward Erin Schwenke scored two game-winning goals and the Bobcats won both home matches this weekend.
Schwenke broke a 1-1 tie in the 84th minute against Morehead State Friday to give the Bobcats a 2-1 victory. She did it again Sunday, as her goal in the 87th minute propelled Ohio to a 3-2 win over Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne.
Sunday was a rain-soaked affair at Chessa Field. The teams played to a scoreless tie at the half before both squads broke out in the second.
Ohio took a 2-0 lead as senior forward Jasmine Merith scored twice for the Bobcats. But the Mastodons(0-5-1) fought back with goals by sophomore defender Justine LeBlanc and freshman forward Lisa Underwood to tie the game at two.
Senior forward Amy Lower sent a shot off the post in the closing minutes and Schwenke gathered the rebound and scored.
I saw Lower. She had a good shot and she got unlucky
Schwenke said. Luckily I was there to finish it off.
Ohio fell behind Morehead State early Friday when forward Jillian Birchmeier beat goalkeeper Jess MacLean from 22 yards in the sixth minute to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead.
The Eagles ( 3-5-1) controlled the first half, but Ohio would not stay down for long. Lower scored on a penalty kick in the 48th minute to level the score at 1.
Lower's goal was the 21st of her career, but just her first this season. She is in fifth place on the school's all-time list and is just two behind Tiffany Horvath for fourth.
It's always the first goal that's the hardest to come by Lower said. Once it happens it seems like they just roll in.
The two teams went back and forth until Schwenke gathered a pass from Merith in stride and beat the goalkeeper from 12 yards away.
It just feels good that I can help contribute to the team
Schwenke said. It's a team game
so I'm glad I can help.
Ohio scored five goals in the two matches. That is more than they had the entire season coming into the weekend.
It's nice to know that the things we've been improving on are helping us
coach Stacy Strauss said.
The Bobcats begin Mid-American Conference play this week, as Central Michigan visits Chessa Field Friday and Eastern Michigan comes to town Sunday.
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Sports
Vince Nairn
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