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OXFORD, Ohio – The No. 4 Ohio field hockey team begins play at the 2023 Mid-American Conference Tournament on Friday, Nov. 3 when they take on No. 1 Miami. First touch is set for 11:30 a.m. at the Miami Field Hockey Complex.
SCOUTING OHIO
Led by head coach Ali Johnston, Ohio enters the matchup with Miami with a 6-9 overall record and a 4-3 mark in MAC play.
This season, Ohio defeated Indiana, 3-2 in overtime, while also picking up shutouts over Central Michigan and Longwood.
Ohio was led by fifth year
Katelyn Whittle who had one of the best offensive seasons in program history, scoring a career-high 18 goals with nine assists and 45 points.
ALL-MAC SELECTIONS
Whittle was named the MAC Offensive Player of the Year after leading the Ohio offense this season with a career year. Overall, Whittle played and started all 15 matches with a career-high 18 goals and nine assists for a career-high 45 points. She recorded 55 shots with 44 on goal for .800 shots on goal percentage. She also recorded two game-winning goals, while playing 842 minutes.
Currently, Whittle leads the MAC in goals, goals per game (1.2), assists and points and is second in shots and shots on goals. Nationally, Whittle is currently fourth in goals per game and third points per game.
Johnstone was named the MAC Co-Coach of the Year earlier this week as well. Johnstone is the first Bobcat to be named Coach of the Year since Neil Macmillan in 2011. Johnstone led the Bobcats back to the postseason this year, taking advantage of their challenging schedule, which was highlighted by an overtime victory against Indiana on Sept. 10. In MAC play, Johnstone led Ohio to a 4-3 mark, improving on last year's record. Ohio also recorded two shutouts in MAC play and defeated Kent State for the first time since 2013.
Other All-MAC selections are Whittle and freshman midfielder
Pauline Hartlieb named First Team All-MAC, while sophomores forward
Sasha Dikotla and back
Anouk Plaehn earned a spot on the All-MAC Second Team. Hartlieb and fellow freshman forward
Johanna Hildebrandt were named to the All-Freshman Team.
SCOUTING MIAMI
Miami enters the tournament as the No. 1 seed after clinching a share of the regular season championship. Overall, Miami went 12-7 with a 6-1 mark in MAC play. The RedHawks earned wins over Michigan State and Wake Forest.
Miami also had seven players earn All-MAC recognition and were led this season by Claudia Negrete Garcia. Negrete Garcia has had a dominant season and currently leads the RedHawks in goals (13), points (30), shots (74), and shots on goal (50). She leads the entire conference in shots and shots on goal. The senior also leads the MAC in game-winning goals with five.
EARLIER THIS SEASON
The two teams met earlier this season in Athens, with Miami winning the hard-fought battle, 3-1 on Pruitt Field.
The Bobcats are looking to defeat the RedHawks for the first time since 2013.
UP NEXT
With a win, Ohio would take on the winner of No. 2 App State and No. 3 Kent State in the MAC Championship game on Saturday, Nov. 4 at 2 p.m.
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