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DEKALB, Illinois – The Ohio women's soccer team (4-4-2) wrapped up the month of September with a 3-1 win over Northern Illinois (2-5-3). It was an offensive flurry in the first half with the Bobcats and Huskies scoring all four of the goals in the first 45 minutes. 

Northern Illinois was the first to get moving forward, earning a corner kick in the second minute. The corner kick was whipped into the box over the head sophomore goalkeeper Celeste Sloma (Columbus, Ohio), ultimately bouncing off the post and into the back of the net. The goal was the fastest goal allowed by the Bobcats this season and put the Huskies ahead 1-0 early. 

The Bobcats responded quickly. Sophomore Ella Deevers (Streetsboro, Ohio) collected the ball on the right wing. She crossed it into the box, splitting a pair of Husky defenders. The ball came to senior Shae Robertson (Lexington, Kentucky) who rifled her one-touch shot into the top corner. The 14th minute goal leveled the scoring and pushed Robertson into the team lead for goals scored this season with three. 

Ohio kept the ball rolling offensively. Sophomore Eve Berish (Hudson, Ohio) found Deevers down the wing once again. Deevers' pass found sophomore Scout Murray (Chicago, Illinois) who flicked the ball to Robertson. The senior kept her composure in front of the net, slotting the ball past the keeper for her fourth goal of the year and giving Ohio a 2-1 advantage. 

Just minutes later, the Bobcats pushed forward once again. Freshman Jaimason Brooker (Powell, Ohio) gathered the ball on top of the box. She fired a low shot into the bottom right corner, just past the diving keeper. The goal, Brooker's first of her collegiate career, gave the Bobcats a 3-1 lead. 

The Huskies looked to cut the deficit down to one but were denied by Sloma in quick succession. First, Sloma made a save in the bottom right corner and backed it up with a save just moments later. 

After immense attacking play from both sides, the Bobcats entered the halftime break with a 3-1 advantage. Each team had six shots and four shots on goal. While Northern Illinois had two corners to the Bobcats zero, Sloma's three saves slowed the Husky attack. 

The second half did not provide the same attacking prowess compared to the first. While redshirt senior Haley Miller (Cincinnati, Ohio), Murray, Robertson, and Berish all looked to create attempts, their chances were stifled by the Northern Illinois defense. 

The Huskies got their best chance of the half with just over 20 minutes to play. After working the ball around the Bobcat defense, Northern Illinois provided a cross into the box. A free attacker awaited the ball and headed it on frame but Sloma made an outstanding save. A full-extension dive to her left denied the Huskies their second goal of the game and kept the Bobcat advantage at 3-1. 

The Bobcats were able to control play for the remainder of the game. The final whistle blew and Ohio gained their second win in MAC play. The three goals were the most scored by the Bobcats since the season opener versus Duquesne. Robertson's two goals also marked the first multi-goal performance by a Bobcat this season. 

Ohio outshot Northern Illinois 13-12, with an eight to six advantage on shots on goal. Sloma once again performed well, accumulating five saves bouncing back strong from the Huskies' early goal. 

Up Next: 
The Bobcats will return home for the fourth MAC game of the year. Bowling Green will head to Athens for a 1 p.m. game this Sunday (Oct. 1) at Chessa Field. 

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