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LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Ohio field hockey team (8-7, 3-3 MAC) returned to action Friday afternoon (Oct. 21), recording its third-straight shutout by defeating Bellarmine (4-12, 2-4 MAC), 4-0 on the road.
Overall, Ohio registered 16 shots with 12 on goal, while Bellarmine recorded seven attempts with four on goal. Ohio also registered nine corners, while the Knights had four.
Individually, senior
Katelyn Whittle (Glenwood, Md.) led the Bobcats with two goals on four shots with four on goal. Junior
Meela Kopp (Louisville, Ky.) added a goal and an assist, while recording four shots with two on goal. Freshman
Mijntje Ligtenberg (The Hague, The Netherlands) added an assist, three shots and three shots on goal. Senior
Lucy Davis (Kettering, Ohio) also added a goal for the Bobcats.
In goal, junior
Macy Lotze (Louisville, Ky.) recorded her third-straight shutout, playing all 60 minutes and did not allow a goal, while making four saves on seven shots faced.
The Bobcats opened the first quarter with the offensive momentum, getting to the Bellarmine side of the field early. As the quarter progressed, both teams generated several chances, however, neither team capitalized, sending the game to the second quarter still scoreless. The Bobcats' offense controlled the second quarter of play. However, the Bellarmine defense was able to keep Ohio from scoring, sending the game to the half still tied at 0-0.
At the half, Ohio outshot Bellarmine 9-2 with six shots on goal to the Knights two. Ohio also registered six corners, while Bellarmine recorded one.
The Bobcats finally struck early in the third quarter when Whittle scored in the 36
th minute, giving Ohio a 1-0 lead. Ohio continued to put the pressure on the Bellarmine defense as the third quarter continued. That pressure paid off when Whittle scored her second goal of the quarter, this one with an assist from Koop off a penalty corner, putting Ohio up 2-0 with 15 minutes to play.
The fourth quarter saw the Ohio defense dig in, fending off numerous attempts from Bellarmine. However, the Bobcats were able to capitalize on one of their chances late in the quarter, adding on when Davis scored with an assist from Ligtenberg in the 56
th minute. The Bobcats' offense was not finished. In the 59
th minute, Koop added a goal of her own off a penalty corner, helping secure the 4-0 road victory for the Bobcats.
Up next, the. Bobcats head to Bloomington, Ind. on Sunday, Oct. 23 to take on Indiana. First touch is set for 1 p.m. and can be seen on Big Ten Network+.
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