Oct. 3, 2009

Final Stats

Box Score

MOUNT PLEASANT, Michigan -The Bobcats earned their all-important first conference victory on Saturday, playing a solid 70 minutes and beating the Central Michigan Chippewas by a score of 2-1.

The match got of to a cracking start, with both Ohio and Central firing shots early. Katherine Ballard hit one on goal in the second minute, but Melinda Curran of the Chippewas was equal to the task. The early shot by Central Michigan never got through to Courtney Seiders (Mt. Joy, Pa.), as the defense was up to the task in knocking it down.

The teams really settled in after these two early shots, trading possession and substitutions but not shots over the next few moments.

This all changed in the 15th minute when Ballard found the back of the net for Ohio. The shot was taken from a penalty corner and was assisted by Katelyn Shelley (Ephrata, Pa.) and Brittany Zorn (Millersville, Md.). The goal was Ballard's fourth on season, which leads the team.

The `Cats kept up the pressure on Curran and the Chippewas with shots by Ballard and Marcy Dull (Ephrata, Pa.) around the 24-minute mark. Curran was equal to each challenge, sending both shots aside.

Central Michigan was able to tie up the match in the 31st minute, just moments before halftime. Paulina Lee found the back of the net for her first goal of the season, with an assist by Kelly Jordan. The teams then headed into the locker rooms at halftime with the score tied at 1-1. Each team fired four shots and earned two corners in the first 35 minutes.

The second half got off to a slower start than the first, but after six minutes the Bobcats began to pepper CMU with shot after shot. Paige Herr (Lancaster, Pa.) and Ballard fired shots just seconds apart that were both saved by the defense. Ballard was able to get one through to the goalie just a moment later, but Curran was in the right place to make the save. Taylor Anderson (Pittsburgh, Pa.) got in on the offensive action just moments later, but again, Curran was in the right spot to make the save.

Fifteen minutes into the second half, the Bobcats broke through yet again. In an almost statistical carbon-copy of the first Ohio goal, Ballard (Charlottesville, Va.) scored again with assists from Shelley and Zorn. This tally marked Ballard's second goal of the match and fifth of the season. At this point in the match she had unleashed six shots, all of which were on goal.

The Chippewas stepped up the intensity after this goal, firing two shots in a span of twenty seconds at goalkeeper Seiders. She was equal to both shots, turning them aside to make her second and third saves of the day. The Bobcats held the Chippewas to only three corners on the day, which makes for a very solid defensive performance.

"We just came together well defensively today," said head coach Neil Macmillan. "There was more organization, more team responsibility, and it was a good effort by the team."

After a timeout by host Central, Ballard picked up right where she left off, firing her seventh shot of the day. Like the others, this one was also on goal. In her 50th career game as a Bobcat, Ballard fired seven shots on goal and scored twice, including the game-winner.

"I think the team's performance today was great," said Ballard. "We definitely came out in the second half and made corrections from the first and really worked well as a team. It was just a team effort all around."

Ohio's next game will be at Kent State tomorrow. Game time is set for one pm.