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ATHENS, Ohio – The Ohio soccer team (4-6-2) was defeated today (Oct. 5) by Toledo (5-5-2). A first half goal lifted the Rockets past the Bobcats by a score of 1-0.
The Bobcats, led by sophomores Eve Berish (Hudson, Ohio) and Scout Murray (Chicago, Ill.), dominated possession in the early minutes of the game. Freshman Jaimason Brooker (Powell, Ohio) recorded the first shot on target of the game, but the Rockets responded with two corners of their own, each of which fell flat.
The Rockets would continue to shoot forward, drawing a free kick around midfield. Toledo fired the ball into the box where it rattled around, finding the feet of a Rocket forward. She collected and with her right foot found the bottom left corner. The goal gave the Rockets a 1-0 advantage with just more than 20 minutes remaining in the first half.
Ohio would quickly respond with the best chance of their half. Redshirt senior Haley Miller (Cincinnati, Ohio) played a ball beyond the backline of Toledo. Senior Julianna Farina (Wenonah, N.J.) found the end of it but her effort was knocked away by the Rocket goalkeeper. Senior Izzi Boyd (Gibsonia, Pa.) picked up the rebound but her shot attempt sailed just wide.
Toledo kept the pressure on the Bobcat defense. A left-footed attempt was headed for the back of the net until graduate student Ella Bianco (Dayton, Ohio) made a last-ditch effort to deny the Rockets their second goal of the game.
The two sides went into the halftime break with Toledo in the lead. The Bobcats were strong moving forward but were only able to record one shot on goal. On the other end, Toledo had three shots on goal and two corners.
Senior Shae Robertson (Lexington, Ky.) provided the Bobcats with the first opportunity of the second half. Her shot, from ten yards beyond the 18-yard box forced the Toledo keeper back on her line, but missed just over the bar.
The Bobcats continued to push forward. Freshman Rylee Mensel (Westerville, Ohio) gathered the ball on the right wing. Her cross found junior Quintin Tostevin (Toronto, Ontario, Canada), who made an attacking run from her defensive position. Tostevin's shot missed over the bar allowing the Rockets to maintain their goal advantage.
Ohio sparked another chance down the right wing. Sophomore Hailey Jeng (Centerville, Ohio) whipped in a cross from just outside the box. Her cross found Robertson, but her looping header could not find the frame. Sophomore Rayann Pruss (Perrysburg, Ohio) also had a long-range shot just fly over the crossbar.
Robertson generated another chance for Ohio, beating a Toledo defender down the left wing. Her cross came to Berish at the penalty spot but her shot was blocked by the Rockets. Miller added a shot on goal from a free kick, but the shot found the mitts of the Toledo keeper.
Ultimately, the Bobcats were unable to find the back of the net despite a flurry of chances in the second half. The final whistle was blown with the score in favor of the visitors, 1-0.
Ohio finished with four shots on goal and four corner kicks. Toledo did not add a shot on goal or corner in the second half, finishing with three and two respectively. Sophomore Celeste Sloma (Columbus, Ohio) notched two saves in the loss.
Up Next:
The Bobcats will head up to Kalamazoo, Mich. to take on Western Michigan. The Bobcat-Bronco battle will kick off at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 8.
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