Oct. 10, 2008
ATHENS, Ohio -
Kent State used two second-half goals in just over a minute to help defeat the Ohio field hockey team 3-0 Friday afternoon at Pruitt Field. With the loss, the Bobcats (5-7, 3-2 MAC) and Golden Flashes (9-4, 4-1 MAC) split the regular-season series for the third-straight year, as Ohio won at Kent State 1-0 less than two weeks ago. The Bobcats are now tied for second place in the Mid-American Conference with Miami.
"I think the whole game was even, statistically it was very close," Ohio head coach Neil Macmillan said. "We held them to six shots, which is great. Unfortunately, that turned into three goals, so our defense wasn't as sound as it needed to be."
Neither team produced much offense in the opening frame, as both teams were able to get the ball inside the circle, but neither could get a shot off. The Flashes' Laurie Wilkins fired the only shot of the first half, but Ohio senior goalie Jessie Martin (Louisville, Ky.) made the save to keep the game scoreless at halftime.
The Bobcats started the second half strong, applying pressure in the Kent State zone, but couldn't convert on their opportunities.
"We created an opportunity, but had a goal disallowed in the first four minutes of the second half," Macmillan said.
The Golden Flashes took advantage of Ohio's misfortunes and responded by scoring two goals in a stretch of 1:14. Freshman Debbie Bell notched her league-leading 15th goal of the season 3:37 into the second stanza, as she took a pass from sophomore Rachel Miller and dribbled around Martin to put KSU on top. Sophomore Nicole Leach then stretched the lead to 2-0, as she deflected a Miller shot off a penalty corner into the net. Miller would earn her fourth point of the game on a goal in the 55th minute off a penalty corner assisted by senior Stephanie Bernthal and junior Allison Kittelberger.
The Bobcats responded late, earning four penalty corners in a five-minute stretch, but again Ohio came away empty-handed and was unable to put a goal on the board, falling 3-0.
"We started well in the second half and played well throughout. It was just a case of finishing and we didn't have the opportunities to put the ball in the back of the net," Macmillan said. "We had corners, but we were a little muddled with where people were supposed to be, which is unfortunate because that's my responsibility to make people understand that, but it wasn't quite there today."
Kent State outshot the 'Cats 6-4 and held a slight, 6-5 advantage in penalty corners. Miller led KSU with three shots, while senior Rachelle Coetzee (Bloemfontein, S.A.) fired two shots to pace Ohio.
Martin and Golden Flash sophomore keeper Caroline Suitch each made two saves on the day.
The Bobcats look to rebound tomorrow, as they host the Missouri State Bears (6-6, 1-1 MAC) at 1 p.m. at Pruitt Field. Live stats will be available for tomorrow's match by clicking here.
