Sept. 3, 2008
Box Score | Photo Gallery 
ATHENS, Ohio -
It was an eerily similar situation for the No. 20 Ohio field hockey team Wednesday night, as the Bobcats (1-2) lost another heartbreaking one-goal game. For the second consecutive game, Ohio came up a goal short, this time falling to in-state rival Ohio State (2-0) in double overtime, 2-1. On Sunday, the Bobcats dropped a 1-0 decision to No. 7 James Madison.
"The loss was tough, but the way we played was fantastic, especially in overtime," Ohio head coach Neil Macmillan said. "We were the much fitter team in overtime. We were the better team in overtime. We created more opportunities in the midfield, but we didn't finish them off unfortunately. Ohio State got the opportunities and they took the one they needed."
Senior goalie Jessie Martin (Louisville, Ky.) shined for the Bobcats, setting a career-high with 15 saves, including multiple spectacular diving saves. Ohio State pressured Martin throughout the game, firing 20 shots, while Ohio took seven shots.
"She demonstrated everything that she can do tonight," Macmillan said of his goalie. "She made an incredible save in overtime. The game-winning goal was off a save she made and we didn't quite get the rebound, which was too bad, but she's really a remarkable player. She's really stepping it up her senior season."
The game started slowly, as neither team could generate much offense, but the Buckeyes struck first as senior Emily Mikac slipped one past Martin 23 minutes into the game, for a 1-0 lead. Senior Linda Haussener picked up the assist.
The score would remain 1-0 at halftime, with the Buckeyes out-shooting the Bobcats 7-3 in the first period. Ohio found some offense with the start of the second half and knotted the game at one apiece, as junior Katelyn Shelley (Ephrata, Pa.) notched her first goal of the season. Senior Rachelle Coetzee (Bloemfontein, S.A.) blasted the ball from outside the arc and Shelley put her stick on the ball to deflect it over the shoulder of Ohio State goalie Lindsay Quintiliani and into the top half of the cage, as it deflected off the bottom of the crossbar. The assist was Rachelle's second of the season.
Neither team could gain control of the match in regulation, so the game entered sudden-victory overtime tied at one. Ohio State out-shot Ohio 3-1 in the first overtime and also had the advantage in penalty corners 3-1, but Martin would not let the ball into the goal.
The Bobcats seemed to take control in the second overtime, earning two penalty corners, but were not able to capitalize. With less than two minutes remaining in the second overtime, the Buckeyes' Jenn Sciulli stuck a rebound into the goal to earn the 2-1 victory. Aisling Coyle garnered the assist, after firing the original shot.
It was Ohio's first overtime game of 2008 and their first double-overtime game since Nov. 6, 2007 when the Bobcats defeated American 3-2 in the NCAA Tournament play-in game.
Ohio State finished with 14 penalty corners, while Ohio earned half as many, with seven. Quintiliani made three stops in goal for the Buckeyes. Linda Haussener led Ohio State with seven shots, all on goal. Sophomore Louzeth Schutte (Senekal, S.A.) and Rachelle Coetzee each had two shots to pace the Bobcats.
Ohio looks to rebound Saturday, Sept. 6 at 1 p.m. as they travel to Louisville, Ky. to battle the No. 17 Louisville Cardinals. Fans can catch the action on Gametracker by clicking here.
The Bobcats' next four games are on the road, with their next home match scheduled for Friday, Sept. 26 against Central Michigan in their Mid-American Conference opener.
For highlights of tonight's action, please click on the multimedia link on the front page of OhioBobcats.com.
