Sept. 22, 2007

Box Score

MUNCIE, Ind. - In its third overtime game of the season, the 11th-ranked Ohio field hockey team defeated Ball State, 4-3, to open conference play on Saturday.

With the win, Ohio improves to 6-3 overall and 1-0 in the MAC. Ball State falls to 2-7 overall and 0-2 in the MAC.

Torrie Albini (Escondido, Calif.) scored her eighth goal of the season 8:53 into the game to give Ohio a 1-0 lead. MAC Offensive Player of the Week Marcy Dull (Ephrata, Pa.) followed with an unassisted goal at the 20:06 mark to increase Ohio's lead to 2-0.

Ball State responded with a goal by Brooke Macgillivary almost one minute later to come within one at 2-1 going into the half. The Cardinals then tied the game 2-2 with a goal by Amanda Pavone at the 43:40 mark in the second frame.

Within the span of three minutes, both teams exchanged goals to end regulation tied at 3-3. Estienne Coetzee (Bloemfontein, South Africa) scored for Ohio off a feed from Lauren Cassady (Columbus, Ohio) at the 61:45 mark and Jamie Kahn scored for Ball State with 64:47 remaining in the game to force the overtime period.

Katelyn Shelley (Ephrata, Pa.) scored the game-winner for Ohio off a penalty corner from Nikki Gnozzio (Flanders, N.J.).

Ohio goalie Jessie Martin (Louisville, Ky.) matched her career-high with nine saves in the game. Tiffany Shifflett made four saves in goal for Ball State.

"Ball State played a very good game and attacked us well," said Head Coach Neil Macmillan. "The key to our success was how well we kept them out of the game, especially in overtime. Jessie Martin saved a penalty stroke for them in the first few minutes of the extra period and that is what really won the game for us. We played decent throughout and attacked well at time but our game wasn't complete. We had times where we were lacking and that's something that we will need to work on for tomorrow's game."

The Bobcats will continue their MAC opening weekend at Miami tomorrow at 1 p.m.