If someone would have told Ohio field hockey coach Neil Macmillan before the season that the Bobcats would win the Mid-American Conference Championship and regular season, he might not have believed it.
But I'd take it
he said. We had the same record as (eighth-ranked) North Carolina. It's disappointing when you play so well and have an opportunity to go on (in the NCAA Tournament) and things just don't go your way.
He was talking about Ohio's season-ending 1-0 loss to No. 12 California on Tuesday in an evenly matched play-in game for the NCAA Tournament. But after a taste of the postseason, The team is going to be a little hungrier for it next year he said.
It's going to be a motivator
added forward Torrie Albini, whose 14 goals led Ohio for the second straight year. We want to be back here. We want to prove ourselves. That's going to be our main goal.
However, the Bobcats' 13 wins this year matched the fourth highest total in program history and is the highest since the 16 wins the team had in 2001. That was also the only other year Ohio reached the NCAA Tournament.
I just feel like we had more confidence in our own skills and in each other
forward Celine McNamara said. We used each other really well. I think the whole MAC regular season made us realize that we could do this.
But for the Bobcats, who only lose three seniors to graduation, the postseason experience will be invaluable for the relatively young team.
Right now it's hard to look forward
Macmillan said, But we've got a good core of players who are staying.
Team captain and back Amanda Arnold, Ohio's active leader in games played, is one of those seniors who finished her career this week.
It's hard to put it into words how it feels to be a senior
she said. You have this sense of desperation. Especially when it came to the tournament
I was so desperate to win because it's either win or your career is over
and now it is.
After being picked to finish second in the MAC Preseason Coaches Poll, the Bobcats came out and dominated conference play.
But when they stole a win over Ball State for the tournament crown, Seeing the umpire signal a goal in overtime was a feeling that couldn't be topped for Macmillan.
We've accomplished a huge amount this year
he said. Some of the basic errors we were making last year
they're not to be found anymore. We beat every team twice. I think that's a very positive outcome for the season.
