ATHENS, OHIO – The Ohio soccer team (2-1-2) returned to action on Sunday (Sept. 3), battling to a 0-0 draw against Northern Kentucky (1-1-3) on Senior Day at Chessa Field.
The Bobcats fired 13 shots on goal, but were unable to find the back of the net. The Bobcats were lead offensively by sophomore
Scout Murray (Chicago, Ill.) and freshman
Jaimason Brooker (Powell, Ohio), with four and three shots on goal respectively.
Sophomore goalie Celeste Sloma (Columbus, Ohio) saved all three Norse shots on goal.
Both teams started out aggressive in the early minutes of the first half with both sides putting up over five shots in the first 20 minutes.
Senior Julianna Farina (Wenonah, N.J.) and senior Izzi Boyd (Gibsonia, Pa.) kept the pressure on Northern Kentucky as they spent a large portion of their time in NKU territory. Farina and Boyd put up two shots on goal each during the first half, with Boyd nearly scoring in the 16th minute if it weren't for the outstretched arm of the Northern Kentucky goalkeeper.
The Bobcats continued to maintain momentum throughout the rest of the first half, continuing to apply further pressure on Northern Kentucky thanks to Murray who
recorded a first half high of three shots on goal, Brooker, redshirt senior
Haley Miller (Cincinnati, Ohio), and senior Carsyn Prigge (Lexington, Ky.) who recorded one shot on goal each.
With two minutes left to play in the first half, the Bobcats looked to score their first goal of the game. Murray took a shot on center goal, but it was ultimately saved by NKU, effectively closing the half.
The Bobcats dominated the first half, posting 12 shots compared to Northern Kentucky's two, keeping the Norse pinned for the majority of the first half.
The start of the second half picked up right where the first half ended, with the Bobcats continuing their relentless offensive and defensive play. Ohio put up eight shots in the first 25 minutes of the second half, and held the Norse to only one shot.
Ohio's closest opportunity of the match came in the 61st minute after a throw in by the Bobcats. After the ball juggled around numerous times in NKU's box, sophomore
Rayann Pruss (Perrysburg, Ohio) headed the ball into the goal, missing by what seemed like inches as it hit the crossbar, diminishing Ohio's hopes of being on the board.
As the Bobcats and Norse continued to battle it out, sophomore Ella Deevers
(Streetsboro, Ohio), and freshman Sydney Crowe (Wilmington, Ohio) were the catalysts for applying the pressure for the Bobcats late in the second half.
In the 86th minute, the Bobcats were awarded another promising opportunity to put themselves on the board after a handball from Northern Kentucky, resulting in a free kick. Sophomore Eve Berish (Hudson, Ohio), took the kick, but it sailed right into the goalies hands.
The final whistle blew with the final score 0-0. The draw is the second one of the season for the Bobcats.
Ohio had an extensive advantage with 24 total shots compared to Northern Kentucky's six. Ohio continued their advantage with a 12 to three shot on goal difference. Despite the offensive advantages in the Bobcats favor, finding the back of the net was challenging due to the 12 saves by the NKU goalkeeper.
Up Next:
The Bobcats travel to Columbus on Thursday, September 7th, against Ohio State. The game will kick off at 7:00 p.m.
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