Nov. 7, 2006

Box Score

BERKELEY, Calif. - The Mid-American Conference champion Ohio field hockey squad came up just short in its bid for a spot in the NCAA Tournament when it fell by a final of 1-0 to No. 12 California Tuesday in the NCAA Play-In Game.

The Bobcats (13-9), who recently captured their first MAC title since 2001, played the 12th-ranked Golden Bears (17-4) to a scoreless tie for three-quarters of the match. Cal's Andrea Lo was able to net an unassisted goal at 53:51, however, and the Golden Bear defense made the game's lone tally stand.

Ohio was able to register five shots on goal in the contest, and out-shot Cal 13-12 overall, but could not push one past Bear goal keeper Veronica Sykes. The shutout was the fifth of the season for Sykes, and the second in Cal's last three games.

Rachelle Coetzee (Blomfontein, South Africa) led the Ohio offensive effort with six shots taken while Torrie Albini (Escondido, Calif.) registered four. Both were able to get one shot on goal.

Cal registered six shots on goal against Bobcat netminder Jessie Martin (Louisville, Ky.). Despite the loss, Martin and the Ohio defense held its opponent to one goal or less for the 15th time in 22 games this season, and for the seventh time in the last eight outings.

Cal was the seventh ranked team that Ohio played this season. The Bobcats and Bears had met two times prior to Tuesday's match-up, with the all-time series split 1-1.

Ohio captured the 2006 MAC regular season title and capped that accomplishment with a league tournament title this past weekend after victories against Kent State in the semifinals and Ball State in the championship. The tournament victory placed them in the NCAA Play-In game against Nor-Pac Conference champion Cal.

The Bobcats' 13 wins on the season is the most since the 2001 team registered 16.