Oct. 29, 2010
Final Stats
ATHENS, Ohio - Taylor Brown scored twice, including the game-winner in double overtime as Ohio won their regular-season finale at Missouri State this afternoon, 2-1. The sophomore tied the game with five minutes remaining and her team-leading 15th goal of the season proved the difference in the extra session.
"Taylor is someone who can swing and put the ball past the keeper," Head Coach Neil Macmillan said. "Both of her goals were off hard shots and when you give her the time she had, she’s going to be able to score."
The 'Cats are guaranteed a winning record for the fourth time in five years as they improved to 11-9 today and finished 7-3 in MAC competition.
"I'm happy with the teams resiliency," Macmillan said. "We worked our way back in the game and had a chance at the death to win it in regulation. We controlled play in overtime and capitalized on our first real try in the second session."
With the score knotted, Jenna Green approached the ball for a penalty-corner opportunity. She would find Louzeth Schutte who controlled the approach and found Brown on the left wing. The sophomore's game-winner came from about 10 yards out and sent the Green & White into a frenzy.
Brown is now tied for seventh on the single-season charts in goal scoring with Elizabeth Holtzmann (2001) and Gail Hudson (1982). She is also tied with Andrea Voros (2002) and Becky Waters (1981) for eighth all-time with 33 points during a single season.
Brown missed a chance in the 59th minute but finally evened things in the 66th on a shot from straight-on and about 12 yards out. Jessica Vaeth was credited with the lone assist, picking up her first point as a Bobcat at the most opportune of moments.
"Jessica came in and gave us a spark up front," Macmillan said. "She has played on it (turf) more recently than anyone else due to playing on it high school. She did a great job and got extended minutes due to her hard work. I was really impressed with her setting up of the second goal. I thought she'd score one today, she was getting that close to putting one on the board."
The Bobcats seemed to struggle in the first half at putting the ball on goal, being out-shot 5-2 but holding a 4-1 edge in penalty corners. In fact, both chances came within the first eight minutes off penalty corners. Schutte was denied and shortly thereafter, Cathryn Altdoerffer had a chance turned aside.
Missouri State took the lead on a tally by Kristi O'Connor off a rebound in front of the cage. It was O'Connor's third goal of the season.
Katherine Ballard almost tied things during the first minute of the second half when her try at goal dinged off the post. Brown and Brooke Edwards were then denied twice in less than 10 seconds and Schutte was blanked off a penalty-corner try.
Ohio withstood a Missouri State flurry in the second half as the Bears registered six shots in the first nine minutes and goalkeeper Courtney Seiders made saves on all the attempts. After that initial outbreak, the defense tightened for the `Cats and Missouri State could only register one shot in the final 26 minutes of regulation. Penalty corners in the second half heavily favored the Bears at 9-1.
Shots in the overtime period favored Ohio 7-2 and penalty corners were also on the side of the `Cats, 6-4. For the game, Brown and Schutte tied for the team lead with four shots apiece
Ohio will now play the waiting game to see who its opponent will be in the First Round of the Mid-American Tournament on Thursday, November 4.
