Oct. 8, 2010

Final Stats

ATHENS, Ohio - Katie Kemen netted her second score of the season, but it was not enough for Ohio soccer as it battled Western Michigan to a 1-1 draw in an action-packed contest Friday at Chessa Field.

Kemen's (Cincinnati, Ohio) score was her second of the season, while Toye Famodu (Bloomington, Minn.) picked up the assist, also her second of the year. Kelsey Pichel (Rochester Hills, Mich.) led Ohio (4-5-3, 1-2-2 MAC) with four shots on the day, including three on goal. Famodu recorded added three shots, including one on goal, to go with her helper. Sara Seitz (Englewood, Ohio), Erin Schwenke (Solon, Ohio) and Kemen all tallied two shots, while Mattie Liston (Lakewood, Ohio) picked up seven saves in the net.

"It was a wide open game, and we got numbers involved in the attack. Attacks were dangerous for both sides today," Ohio coach Stacy Strauss said. "We had stretches of play where we were good on the ball and moved it around well. I thought for the most part we were very well organized on defense, but against a team that has a knack for scoring goals like they (WMU) do, if you make a mistake you pay for it."

Possessions went back and forth through much of the first several minutes of play. The `Cats had an opportunity early, but the Bronco keeper jumped in front of Famodu's crossing attempt. WMU (6-5-2, 2-1-2 MAC) had a pair of attempts midway through the first half, but Liston made a pair of saves.

Both squads traded possessions the remainder of the half with neither side managing to establish any control. The Broncos outshot Ohio 9-4 in the frame.

Just over six minutes into the second half, the `Cats scored the first goal of the contest as they gained possession deep inside WMU territory. Famodu fired a shot that deflected right in front of the goal to a waiting Kemen, who ripped it into the right corner of the net for the score.

That lead wouldn't last long as just over seven minutes later the Broncos struck back. Following a break to get behind Ohio's defense, Anina Cicerone sent a crossing pass to Brittney Pavlica, who headed it just out of reach of the keeper and into the bottom right corner of the goal.

The `Cats came right back and nearly got on the board nearly a minute later as they took control inside WMU territory. Seitz fired a shot that hit off the cross bar and rebounded back to Schwenke. She fired a shot toward the left side of the net, but WMU's keeper Julia Francy managed to make a diving save just in time to keep the score knotted.

Neither squad was able to get on the board the remainder of regulation as the game went to overtime. The Broncos came out strong to start the first extra frame and took control of the possession. Ohio's defense was up to the task, however, and kept WMU from getting any clear shots. Neither side managed a shot over the stanza as action went to the second over time.

The Green and White came out strong to start the second overtime and had a chance early when Pichel ripped a shot toward the goal, but Francy managed to get in front. Ohio came within an eyelash of ending it in the 106th minute as it got behind the main part of the Broncos' defense and took possession inside the box. Pichel came up with the ball on the left side of the goal and fired a shot towards an open net, but Francy made a diving save at the last minute to ensure the tie. The `Cats' defense stepped up especially well over the final 20 minutes of play, holding WMU to just one shot over the two overtimes.

Ohio will wrap up West Division competition Sunday when it returns to Chessa Field to play host to Northern Illinois. First touch is set for 1 p.m.