FOLLOW OHIO SOCCER: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
ATHENS, Ohio – Ohio soccer (6-7-5) ended the regular season today (Oct. 26) with a 3-0 win over Akron (3-14-1) at Chessa Field.
In the first minute, an early attack from senior Shae Robertson (Lexington, Ky.) led to a corner kick for Ohio. Sophomore Ella Deevers' (Streetsboro, Ohio) cross proved to be dangerous, finding senior Carsyn Prigge (Lexington, Ky.) but her header went just above the bar.
Robertson and sophomore Scout Murray (Chicago, Ill.) combined to create another chance for the Bobcats. Their connection led to a shot from Robertson from just inside the 18-yard-box. Her shot in the bottom right corner was denied by a nice save from the Akron goalkeeper.
Ohio continued to show their defensive prowess with a strong performance in the first half. Prigge, along with junior Quintin Tostevin (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) and sophomore Eve Berish (Hudson, Ohio) made several tackles to stymie the Zips' offensive opportunities.
The Bobcats took the lead in the game with just under two minutes left in the first half. After dispossessing Akron, freshman Jaimason Brooker (Powell, Ohio) and sophomore Maia Kaufman (Westerville, Ohio) combined down the left-wing. Kaufman's cross found senior Izzi Boyd (Gibsonia, Pa.) who fired the ball into the back of the net. The goal, Boyd's third goal of the season, put the Bobcats ahead 1-0 heading into the break.
In the opening half, Ohio had eight shots, four on goal, and three corner kicks. On the other end, Akron had one shot and one corner kick.
An indirect free kick inside the box presented an early chance for Ohio. After a touch from sophomore Rayann Pruss (Perrysburg, Ohio), Berish rifled a shot towards the frame but it was blocked by an Akron defender. Ohio gathered the rebound and Prigge found Pruss down the left wing. Pruss approached the net but her shot missed narrowly outside of the post.
Prigge once again dispossessed an Akron midfielder and carried the ball into the offensive zone. She played a perfect through ball to Boyd who's shot found the back of the net for the second time today.
The Bobcats kept the pressure on. Robertson found the ball in the box but her shot deflected off the post, out for a goal kick. Off the ensuing goal kick, Berish intercepted a pass and volleyed the bouncing ball over the Akron keeper. The goal put Ohio ahead 3-0 with just a few minutes remaining.
Ohio finished the game with 20 shots, nine on target, and five corners. The Zips had three shots, one on target, and one corner kick.
This concludes the end of the 2023 regular season. Ohio is awaiting official word from the Mid-American Conference for their postseason fate.
#OUohyeah
