Sept. 20, 2009
ATHENS, Ohio - An action-packed, wet contest was decided by another well-timed Erin Schwenke goal as Ohio slipped past a feisty IPFW squad 3-2 amidst rainy conditions Sunday afternoon at Chessa Field. Senior Jasmine Merith scored two second-half goals to help the Bobcats to their second-straight win heading into Mid-American Conference play.
Merith's (Richmond Hill, Ontario) two goals marked her first scores of the season and the fifth and sixth goals of her career, respectively. Kelsey Pichel (Rochester Hills, Mich.), who assisted on both of Merith's scores, tallied the first two-assist game of her career. She now has three assists on the season. Schwenke (Solon, Ohio) recorded her team-leading third goal and her second-straight game winner. Amy Lower (West Chester, Ohio) picked up her first assist of the season.
"It was nice to get a couple wins (this weekend) and to know that the things we have been improving on are helping us," Ohio coach Stacy Strauss said. "The speed with the grass being wet today was a bit of an adjustment in the first half. We had plenty of chances, and we need to continue to execute and finish."
Mother Nature did what she could to make her presence felt with slippery conditions that threw off play for both sides to start the contest. Despite that, Ohio (3-4-0) controlled the majority of the possessions early and had opportunities to score early. The Mastodons' (0-5-1) defense responded with clutch deflections and a couple big saves from their keeper to keep the Green and White off the board. The `Cats defense was equally as strong, if not more so, as it turned IPFW away multiple times to give its offensive counterparts more opportunities. Despite outshooting the Mastodons 8-1, the count remained at zero at the half.
Both sides adjusted to start the second half as the action was back-and-forth early on. Both defenses were strong, however, and managed to keep the other out the net through the first several minutes. Ohio finally broke through early in the 61st minute when it got an advantage on the Mastodon defense. Pichel sent a rocket in from 20 yards out that Merith deflected into the right corner of the net to put the `Cats on top. Ohio scored again just 40 seconds later with Merith's second goal as she knocked a deflected Pichel attempt past the IPFW keeper and into the corner of the goal.
The Mastodons were far from being done however, as they fought back with a goal of their own just over seven minutes later. Justine LeBlanc headed in a corner kick from teammate Kateri Till to cut the Green and White lead to 2-1. IPFW kept some pressure on Ohio over the next few minutes and took advantage of a hands call inside the box to set up a penalty kick late in the 74th minute. Lisa Underwood managed to knock it just past the outstretched hands of the Ohio keeper and into the net.
Ohio responded with a fury and took back the possession over the next several minutes. With the action deep in IPFW territory, Lower sent a crossing shot a few yards out on the right corner that deflected off the left post to a waiting Schwenke, who tapped it into the back of the net. The `Cats defense would host strong over the last couple minutes to seal the Green and White victory.
The `Cats outshot IPFW 14-6 on the day, with six of those shots coming on goal. Pichel and Lower each tallied a team-high three shots, while Merith tallied two, both of which were goals. Jess MacLean (Loveland, Ohio) picked up two saves and recorded the win in the net.
Ohio will be back in action Friday, Sept. 25, when it opens up MAC play by welcoming Central Michigan to town. First touch is set for 4 p.m. ET at Chessa Field.
