Aug. 27, 2010
Box Score
ATHENS, Ohio - The Ohio University field hockey team dropped a tough contest to Radford this afternoon, 1-0. The season opener at Pruitt Field saw the Bobcats out-shoot their opponent but miss out on scoring a goal.
"We played well today, we just couldn't put the ball in the back of the net," Head Coach Neil Macmillan said. "We had some good looks down the field and some really nice passing combinations at times. We hit the post, we missed some opportunities and their goalie and defense played well to keep us out."
The Bobcats had a potential game-tying goal in the first half waved off despite protests that it deflected off a player within the circle. The two best second-chances were wiped off due to a high shot and a defensive save by RU's Megan Lenhardt on Katherine Ballard (Charlottesville, Va.)
Taylor Brown (Elkton, Md.) led Ohio with two shots on goal while Brooke Edwards (Milford, Pa.), Ballard, Cathryn Altdoerffer (Conestoga, Pa.) and Louzeth Schutte (Senekal, South Africa) all had one.
"The people we plugged in at the positions vacated by the seniors did a nice job today," Macmillan said. "I also think the two freshmen that played for us [Jessica Jue and Jessica Bitz] did some nice things for us."
Ohio started the second half strong (five shots, three corners) but only mustered three shots over the final 19 minutes.
"Radford's a good team and they won their half of the [NorPac] conference last season," Macmillan added. "We were not playing a bad team today and we created opportunities and chances, we could move the ball, we just couldn't put it in the net."
Ohio out-shot Radford 5-4 in the first half and 8-3 during the second half. Despite the advantage in shots, the Green & White could not find the equalizer. The 'Cats also held an edge in penalty corners, 9-8.
Senior Courtney Seiders (Mt. Joy, Pa.) made four saves and the Bobcat defense held Radford without a goal over the final 53:29.
The Highlanders got their goal about midway through the first half from All-NorPac selection Marlee Schramm off a pass from Courtney Poole. NorPac East Division Defensive Player of the Year Jennifer Wisniewski made five saves and earned the shutout in net for Radford.
Ohio (0-1) came into the contest ranked 29th after receiving 47 votes in the Kookaburra/NFHCA Division I Preseason Poll.
The last team to blank the 'Cats in a non-conference game was No. 2 Virginia last season.
Ohio hosts St. Louis on Sunday afternoon at Pruitt Field. The match is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.
