Oct. 1, 2006

Box Score

ATHENS, Ohio - Sophomore Courtney Mink (Mason, Ohio) tallied her first career goal and assist within 54 seconds of one another and freshman keeper Dominique Wright (Durango, Colo.) recorded her first career shutout as the Ohio women's soccer team shut out Western Michigan 2-0 Sunday at Chessa Field.

"We've been, all season, kind of waiting for someone to have a breakout game as a forward," Head Coach Stacy Strauss said. "I thought the entire time (Mink and Halle Plagens) were in, not only did they create goals but they were also creating other dangerous chances."

The Bobcats (5-6-0, 3-1-0) had a couple of chances early against Western Michigan (2-9-1, 1-3-0). On a corner kick, junior Lindsey Price (West Chester, Ohio) sent a cross that freshman Amy Lower (West Chester, Ohio) put on goal but Bronco keeper Jenna Schrumpf was there just in time for the save. Freshman Jasmine Merith (Richmond Hill, Ontario) also had a good shot on goal but Schrumpf was there again for the save.

Late in the first half, sophomore Erika Schmitt (Wyoming, Ohio) sent a cross right in front of the Bronco goal but a pair of Bobcats were just out of position to put it in. A minute later, freshman Halle Plagens (Bay Village, Ohio) took a loose ball and headed it toward goal, but the ball bounced off the cross bar and the post before being cleared by a defender.

Just moments later, Plagens played a ball into the zone and fed a perfect pass to Mink, who found the back of the net for her first collegiate goal and a 1-0 Bobcat lead. The assist was also the first of Plagens' career. Mink is the third Bobcat this season to make her first collegiate goal count as a game-winner, joining Plagens and freshman Rachael Goulding (Toronto, Ontario). The goal came at the 38:12 mark.

"(My first goal) was so exciting, I think I screamed a little," Mink said. "Halle was coming down the side and I was yelling for it and she gave me a nice ball. It feels good."

Just 54 seconds later Ohio extended its lead. Mink was in the middle of the play again, this time feeding a pass to Price in the middle of the field. Price drove a shot past Schrumpf for her second goal of the season to give Ohio a 2-0 advantage at halftime. Mink earned the first assist of her collegiate career on the play.

Neither team found the back of the net in the second half as the Bobcats improved to 3-2 on the season at home. Ohio finished with 16 shots, nine on goal, while limiting the Broncos to eight shots and only three on goal. Ohio held a six-to-four edge in corner kicks in the win.

Wright played the entire 90 minutes in goal for the Bobcats and recorded her first collegiate shutout between the pipes. She finished the day with three saves to move to 1-1-0 this season.

"It feels good, but today we worked as a team," Wright said. "After the game on Friday we were a little disappointed, but we went to practice the next day wanting to win it, wanting to work hard, and we did. We had a huge game, played hard and took it to the net."

"I think goal keeping is 90 percent mental and over the last week or two (Wright) has gained a lot of confidence and composure," Strauss said. "She's talking more and anticipating things better. She did have a very good game and it's been coming all week."

The Bobcats continue their current four-game home stand Friday when they battle Bowling Green at 4:00 p.m. at Chessa Field.