Sept. 11, 2010
Final Stats
ATHENS, Ohio - The Ohio University field hockey team picked up a 2-1 win over Indiana on Saturday afternoon when Taylor Brown scored her team-leading sixth goal of the season in the second half.
"We played a much better game today and really maintained a high tempo throughout the game," Head Coach Neil Macmillan said. "To beat a team like Indiana that's very organized, structured and played in the Big Ten is a big step for us."
With less than 15 minutes remaining, Brown scored off a rebound to give the Bobcats a 2-1 advantage. It was her first game-winner of the season as Ohio improved to 2-5 with the win and IU fell to 2-2. Indiana was receiving 98 votes which ranks them 22nd nationally in the Kookaburra/NFHCA National Coaches Poll.
"I was really impressed with Taylor this weekend," Macmillan added. "She got on the score sheet a couple of times and really put the game away for us today."
Ohio attacked the Hoosiers early and scored less than two minutes into the game. Senior Paige Herr scored her first goal of the season to give the 'Cats a 1-0 lead. The goal was deflected in off a penalty corner taken by Louzeth Schutte. It was the second assist of the year for the native of South Africa.
"We were really pleased with how we came out today," Macmillan said. "We really got after them and our pressure paid off with an early goal."
The Bobcats only managed three shots in the first half but they held the lead through superb defense. The Ohio backline only allowed two Indiana shots in the first half and two penalty corners.
Indiana knotted things in the second half when Shareyna Chang scored in the 38th minute. Chang's first goal of the season hit a Bobcat defender in front and went past goalkeeper Courtney Seiders.
Indiana doubled the shot output of the 'Cats in the second half, racking up 14 shots to Ohio's seven. However, Seiders was outstanding in net, making eight of her season-high nine saves over the final 35 minutes. IU also could not capitalize on their nine penalty corners, four coming after Ohio had taken the late lead. Seiders made four saves and Jenna Green had a defensive save in the final 15 minutes to preserve the lead.
"Everyone on the defensive side stepped up today," Macmillan said. "We were subbing a bunch of people in and out and to hold them to one goal was quite an acheivement by our backline players."
It was the fourth-consecutive win for the Bobcats against IU after Katherine Ballard scored the game-winner against the nationally-ranked Hoosiers last year. Indiana out-shot Ohio 21-9 last season and Seiders made 13 saves in earning a shutout.
The Bobcats are back in action next Friday at 4 p.m. when they host Robert Morris at Pruitt Field.
