Ohio (5-10, Mid-American Conference 3-4) lost to Longwood (4-10, MAC 2-5) 2-1 on a rainy Sunday afternoon at Pruitt Field. The Bobcats dominated possession and shooting chances with 24 shots, but could not take advantage. The star of the game, Longwood goalie Sophie Mooldijk, made 13 saves and carried her team to the win. Mooldijk tallied her fourth straight game with double-digit saves.
“Their keeper is incredible, and we knew that,” head coach Ali Johnstone said. “We talked about the details of making sure you hit the corners and pass around her. It just didn’t happen.”
The first quarter started with a sign of what was to come. The Bobcats gained possession and received two quick shots from junior Emily Beitzel and senior Sasha Dikotla. Throughout the period, the Bobcats maintained possession and pressured the Lancers’ net. Mooldijk made her second save on junior Zoe Collins. It was her first shot of the year.
As the buzzer sounded, Longwood earned a penalty corner. As a result, the team had an untimed opportunity to score. Ohio goalie Ash Stephenson blocked graduate student Zoe Tierney’s attempt. The ball rebounded into the waiting arms of Caitlin Carraway, who scored her first goal of the year. After a strong first quarter, Ohio walked away with a disappointing one-goal deficit.
Again, the Bobcats controlled possession at the beginning of the second quarter. They generated three scoring chances, but the Lancers set up a strong yet undisciplined defense. They gave up three penalties, two corners and a penalty kick. Senior Emily Risser took the free shot and aimed it right at Mooldijk, but it was denied.
Longwood cleared the ball downfield. Ohio quickly turned it around, creating a two-on-one breakaway. Mooldijk rushed out of the net to make a stop, and freshman Tiana Nhamoinesu took advantage and buried a goal, marking Nhamoinesu’s fourth goal in three games.
“She’s a beast,” Johnstone said. “Her communication is incredible and she’s like a little spark out there.”
Two corner opportunities and nearly a full period of possession later, halftime arrived with the game tied at one goal apiece.
Since the Lancers struck first in the opening half, the Bobcats raced into the second half with an aggressive offensive push. Risser earned a corner just 15 seconds into the third quarter. The Bobcats took five shots in the first five minutes of the quarter but came up empty.
Although the Bobcats kept possession in the offensive zone, their momentum faltered. The Lancers' defense held the Bobcats outside the shooting circle. A flurry of green cards revealed rising tensions. Then, Beitzel received a yellow card, which left the Bobcats down a player heading into the final quarter.
Unlike the previous periods, Longwood immediately attacked with a neat passing play, setting up a goal by Madison Wiley. Molly Rothenberger provided the assist. The early goal startled Ohio into action. After four minutes, Ohio returned to full strength and began sustained offensive pressure. Risser set up a corner for sophomore Deborah James, who had a total of five shots in the game. Mooldijk stepped up again, making two critical saves. She also saved each shot on the next two penalty corners.
Coach Johnstone pulled Ohio’s goalie with three minutes remaining. Still, the Bobcats could not score. This game followed the season’s pattern: the Bobcats control possession, earn corners and fail to capitalize.
Even though the Lancers sit at the bottom of the MAC standings, the Bobcats let the win slip through their fingers. Standout goalie Mooldijk allowed the Lancers to play spoiler as the Bobcats look towards the MAC tournament.
“We need defensive discipline like we had against UMass and then execution like we had against Kent State,” Johnstone said. “If those two could be combined, then we’ll be good.”
Ohio sits on the bubble of qualifying for the tournament. A win against its upcoming opponent, James Madison, is necessary to secure its place. Before this match, Ohio and James Madison were tied in the MAC standings.
The Bobcats play again Oct. 24 at 3 p.m. against Miami. The rivalry matchup will be Ohio’s final home game. Miami leads the MAC and is on a four-game win streak. The Bobcats will need to bring their all to come out on top.
