Oct. 15, 2005

Final Stats

ATHENS, Ohio - Despite an early 1-0 lead for the Bobcats, Miami scored the game's next five goals and held off league-leading Ohio 5-1 Saturday in Mid-American Conference field hockey at Peggy Pruitt Field.

Nikki Gnozzio (Flanders, N.J.) tipped in her second goal in as many days to put the Bobcats (7-8 overall, 5-2 MAC) on top in the first half. The RedHawks (7-8, 4-3 MAC) tied the game before the half, then scored four times, unanswered, to put the game away in the second frame.

"We felt going into the game and throughout the early part of the first half that we would be able to come away with a win today," said Ohio Head Coach Neil Macmillan. "For some reason we just didn't show up hungry and ready to play."

Despite the loss, Ohio remains in good position in the MAC standings with a 5-2 mark. Three conference games remain on the slate, beginning with next weekend's home finale versus Missouri State.

Less than 24 hours after opening the scoring against Ball State, Gnozzio again hit the cage first and pushed the Bobcats to a 1-0 advantage. At the 16:10 mark, the freshman found the ball around the goal after a missed shot. She knocked it in past the Miami defense for her third goal of the season and a 1-0 lead.

"She's getting herself in the right place at the right time," Macmillan said. "It's just a shame we weren't able to build on that lead."

Less than 10 minutes later, Miami erased the deficit for good. Taking a pass from Danielle Perrecone, Miami's Jessica Saling found the back of the net from close range to tie the score.

The game remain knotted at one into halftime, with Ohio leading in shots taken (9-4) and the RedHawks leading with four penalty corners to Ohio's three.

Out of the break, it was all Miami on the offensive end. Keri von Kalinowski put Miami on top for the first time just seven minutes into the half with an unassisted goal, then Elizabeth Gilroy found the net just more than two minutes later off a pass from Courtney Fretz to put the RedHawks up by a pair.

Before all was said and done, Alyssa Nye added a pair of insurance tallies to seal the Miami win.

Miami took 13 shots on the day--10 on goal--while the Bobcats managed 11 shots--four on goal. The RedHawks posted eight penalty corners, and Ohio managed four.

In goal, Kerri Orr made three saves for the RedHawks. Ohio's Jennifer Cote (Raynham, Mass.) made five stops.

"We still only have two losses and we're in good position in the conference," Macmillan said. "We have three MAC games left and we need to take care of each of those if we want to reach our goals."

The first of those three MAC games will be held Friday at Pruitt Field. Ohio will celebrate Senior Day, paying tribute to its five seniors--Cote, Chelsea Mearig (Lititz, Pa.), Taylor Edwards (Chatham, N.J.) and co-captains Erica Bundalo (Virginia Beach, Va.) and Lindsay Rothenberger (Fleetwood, Pa.).

Ohio will meet Missouri State at 3 p.m. Friday at Peggy Pruitt Field.