Oct. 4, 2009
Box Score
KALAMAZOO, Mich. - Jackie Hanson and Kelsey Pichel each scored second-half goals to help lift Ohio soccer to its second-straight MAC road win with a 2-1 victory over Western Michigan Sunday afternoon.
"Both sides came out a little slow the first half, which is to be expected for a Sunday game," Ohio coach Stacy Strauss said. "The second half we created a lot of chances and scored a couple really nice goals. The closing minutes we did what we needed to to hold on."
Ohio's (5-5-1, 2-1-1 MAC) defense carried its strong play from the last two games over into the first half against WMU (5-5-1, 2-2-0 MAC) and nearly silenced the Broncos completely early. WMU managed just two shots through the first 45 minutes of play, both of which came in the first 13 minutes. The Broncos' defense was also solid as it kept the Bobcats from being able to establish any serious scoring opportunities. The count was scoreless at the half.
The count would not last long into the second half as the Green and White came out and ransacked the WMU defense with two goals in the first 10 minutes of play. After Kim Nordtveit (Newtown, Pa.) fired a shot on goal just over a minute into play, the `Cats followed that with their first goal of the contest 82 seconds later. After getting the ball deep into Bronco territory, Hanson (LaGrange, Ill.) made a nice play on a ball that had rebounded over to her by quickly firing it past the WMU keeper and into the left side of the net.
Six and a half minutes later, Pichel (Rochester Hills, Mich.) notched Ohio's second tally of the afternoon when she took a pass from Cathryn Rogers (Toronto, Ontario) had a nice first touch and sent a rocket from about 25 yards out that settled into the back of the goal. The Broncos would not go quietly, however. After putting up three different shots over the next several minutes, two of which were stopped with clutch saves from Jess MacLean (Loveland, Ohio), WMU's Stephanie Skowenski managed to get behind the `Cats' defense midway through the 79th minute and put a shot from the left side of the box into the upper back corner. The Green and White defense fought back and kept the Broncos away from the net the last 10 minutes of play and give Ohio the win.
Pichel, Hanson, Nordtveit and Erin Schwenke (Solon, Ohio) all tallied shots on goal to help lead the Green and White. MacLean tallied three saves in goal.
The Bobcats will look to keep their winning streak going next weekend as they hit the road again to continue MAC play. Ohio will battle Bowling Green Friday before taking on defending conference champion Toledo on Sunday. First touch against the Falcons is scheduled for 4 p.m.
