Oct. 2, 2005
Box Score
KALAMAZOO, Mich. - The Ohio women's soccer team took an early 1-0 lead on a first-half goal by freshman forward Maggie Rojas-Alford but lost 2-1 at Western Michigan on Sunday.
"Overall we played better and with much more intensity," said Bobcat head coach Stacy Strauss, "but we just didn't make the most of our opportunities in front of their goal. We really broke down only once or twice but they capitalized on those chances."
The Mid-American Conference-leading Broncos scored in the 24th and 38th minutes to remain perfect in league play this season. With its fifth-straight win, Western Michigan improved to 6-4-1 and 4-0-0 in the MAC.
The Bobcats (3-7-0, 1-3-0 MAC) were playing without two-time all-conference sweeper Crystal Reed, who sat the game out with back pain. The senior co-captain from Alexandria, Va., was replaced by junior defender Larissa Najjar (Columbus, Ohio) at the defense's most crucial position.
Rojas-Alford put Ohio on the board in the seventh minute when she finished a loose ball in front of the Bronco net that had been served in by senior defender Sara Williams (Princeton, N.J.). It was the third goal of the season for the Minnetonka, Minn., native.
"Sara played a ball in from midfield," Strauss said about the scoring play, "and Maggie settled it with her first touch and then just drove it low and hard off the keeper and into the bottom right corner. It was a great shot."
Western Michigan scored the equalizer when a clear by Najjar was deflected by Chelsea McNally and Thalia Playford slid a shot past Bobcat keeper Melissa Parra (Des Moines, Iowa). The eventual game-winner came seven minutes before halftime when Chantal Robinson found Lisa Witt on the right flank with a free kick and Witt's cross was headed in by Katie Ruzinsky. It marked the 28th career helper by Robinson, making her the school's all-time assist leader.
Ohio had numerous chances to tie the score in the second half but could not find the back of the net. The Bobcats held an 8-1 advantage in corner kicks, including 5-0 after intermission.
Freshman midfielder Erika Schmitt (Wyoming, Ohio) led the Ohio attack with five shots while Rojas-Alford finished with four and sophomore forward Sarah Merritt (Tipp City, Ohio) took three attempts.
The Bobcats stay on the road next weekend when they play at Bowling Green on Friday and at Toledo on Sunday. Ohio will play its final two regular-season home matches on Oct. 14 and 16 against Ball State and Miami, respectively.
"I'm still very confident and I believe in our ability," said Strauss. "Certainly, we're playing a lot of different people and a lot of young people but our intensity has increased and I think our leadership is coming together. I don't see us continuing to lose."
