Sept. 10, 2011
Final Stats
College Park, Md. - Taylor Brown scored the game-winner in overtime after Louzeth Schutte forced the extra frame and Ohio Field Hockey got off to its best start in program history with a 2-1 overtime win against No. 8 American. The victory upped the Bobcat record to 6-0, eclipsing the 5-0-1 start of the 1981 team.
Ohio has now won two games this season against teams ranked in the top-10 for the first time in program history. The only time the Bobcats have beaten two ranked teams in a season was in 2007. Brown's goal was the second game-winner of the season for the junior celebrating her birthday, as she also scored the decider against No. 6 Ohio State last week.
"I think it shows how hard we work and mentality that we have going into every game," Brown said. "The way we've been passing and our fitness level, are both at all-time highs. Our team has so much potential and wins like this show that."
Ohio's defense stifled the 8th-ranked Eagles in the opening stanza, not allowing a shot, while the Bobcats had three tries of their own. Kristine Gegas was denied in the 12th minute by Stephanie Burry and Jessica Jue was denied in the 19th. Brown had the last chance of the half when her try went wide of goal and culminated a scoreless first 35 minutes.
American picked things up to start the second half, getting the first four shots of the stanza and taking the initial lead on a goal by Natalie Ellenberger at 41:42.
Ohio worked a penalty corner seven minutes later that was taken by Jue. The sophomore triggered the ball into Laura Mastro who found Schutte for the equalizer at 49:15. It was the third goal of the season for the two-time reigning MAC Defensive Player of the Week and evened the score at 1-1.
The Bobcats continued pressing the AU goal with Brown, Schutte and Jessica Vaeth having opportunities to give Ohio the lead. After an Ohio timeout, it was Jen McGill making two big saves on Carly Atchison and Grace Wilson to preserve the score and send the game to overtime.
Ohio attacked AU to start the overtime and worked two penalty corners before Brown had a try blocked. That attempt earned Ohio its third penalty corner and Jue fed Brown for the game-winner at 79:56. It was Brown's team-leading fifth goal of the season and Jue's two assists give her six for the season, also tops for the 'Cats.
"I looked at Jessica and just said, this is going to be a goal," Brown said. "I was just hyper-focused on hitting the ball, aimed it to the bottom left corner and hit it in."
Ohio finished with a 9-6 edge in shots and a 7-2 advantage in penalty corners.
Ohio's next contest will be Friday, Sept. 16 at Robert Morris. The game is scheduled to start at 1 p.m.
