Sept. 26, 2010
Final Stats
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - Playing a man down for much of the match, Ohio soccer battled valiantly before falling 3-1 to defending Mid-American Conference Champion Central Michigan on the road Sunday afternoon.
Physical play in the first half resulted in a costly red card against the `Cats (3-4-2, 0-1-1 MAC) midway through the 31st minute. It hurt them in a big way as they played one person down for the rest of the match. The Chippewas (5-3-1, 2-0-0 MAC) capitalized on Ohio's shortened lineup with two goals after the red card en route to the win.
"Our effort in the second half was tremendous," Ohio coach Stacy Strauss said. "I was very proud of the way we played considering the circumstances. We moved the ball around well, and our organization was great. Everyone had to defend, and we did a good job moving where we needed to be."
Rachael Goulding (Toronto, Ontario) scored the `Cats' lone goal of the day, her team-leading second tally of the year, to go with a team-high three shots. Cathryn Rogers (Toronto, Ontario) picked up her third assist of the year, while Erin Schwenke (Solon, Ohio) tallied two shots, both of which landed on goal.
The Green and White had some chances early on to get on the board, but Goulding just missed wide with one attempt and saw the other blocked by a Chippewa defender. Schwenke had a promising shot headed for the net, but CMU keeper Shay Mannino managed to get in the way just in time to make the save.
CMU scored the first goal of the day early in the 30th minute when Laura Twiddle took advantage of a deflection off a shot and knocked the rebound just out of reach and into the net for the first of her two scores. The Chippewas took advantage of the shortened Ohio lineup in the 43rd minute with Twiddle notching her second score of the day. The first half ended with Chippewas holding a 6-3 advantage in shots.
Ohio continued to battle hard through the second half and it finally paid off in the 73rd minute. After picking up a corner kick, Rogers placed her send-in nicely in front of the goal to a waiting Goulding. Goulding quickly slapped it past the CMU defense and keeper and into the back of the net to make it 2-1.
The `Cats kept fighting and had a chance to tie things up in the 81st minute, but Schwenke's offering was saved by the Chippewas' keeper. CMU then took advantage of a corner kick of its own early in the 86th minute when Katie Slaughter knocked in the team's third goal of the day after the send in from Claire Horton. It was too much for the Green and White to overcome late in the contest as it fell.
Ohio will now return home for its MAC home opener Friday against Toledo in a rematch from last year's MAC Tournament. First touch is set for 4 p.m. at Chessa Field.
