Oct. 6, 2006

Box Score

Mt. Pleasant, Mich. - The undefeated Ohio women's field hockey team continued their winning ways as they defeated Central Michigan 3-1.

The Bobcats defense was led by goalkeeper Jessie Martin (Louisville, Ky.), who recorded four saves in the game. This game featured the first goal that Ohio has allowed in Mid-American Conference play this season. The goal, which also stopped Ohio's streak of consecutive shutouts at three, came at the 43:47 mark off an unassisted goal by CMU's Alicia Balanesi. Before the goal by Balanesi, the Bobcats had not allowed a goal in 293:30, with the last goal surrendered by Ohio coming at the hands of Ohio State on Sept. 19.

The Bobcats started the game strong as sophomore Estienne Coetzee (Bloemfontein, South Africa) scored the game's first goal off an assist from Megan Rentschler (Akron, Pa.). The goal from Coetzee would be the only goal scored by either team in the first half. The Bobcats dominated the half by outshooting the Chippewas 7-3.

In the second half, Central Michigan struck first and tied the game at 1-1 as Alicia Balanesi scored less than 12 minutes into the period. It would take the Bobcats less than five minutes to regain the lead and not look back as Celine McNamara (Lakewood, Ohio) and Torrie Albini (Escondido, Calif.) added goals less than four minutes apart.

Ohio finished the game with an 18-10 advantage in shots and a 9-5 advantage in shots on goal. The Bobcats also edged Central Michigan in penalty corners 6-5.

The Bobcats now travel to Kent State to meet the Golden Flashes on Sunday, October 6, at 1 p.m.