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ATHENS, Ohio – The Ohio field hockey team (5-9, 2-4 MAC) returned to action Sunday afternoon (Oct. 20), falling to Kent State (5-10, 4-2 MAC), 2-1, in overtime at Pruitt Field.
Overall, Kent State outshot Ohio, 16-6, with 12 shots on goal to Ohio's four. Meanwhile, both teams dew five penalty corners.
Individually, Senior
Bodhi Littlefield (Oakland, Maine) led Ohio with one goal on three shots, with two on goal. Junior
Anouk Plaehn (Hanover, Germany) recorded one assists with one shot and one shot on goal. Senior
Noa Desmaretz (Antwerp, Belgium) added on shot, with one on goal, while freshman
Marie De Grande (Groot-Bijgaarden, Belgium) added one attempt on goal as well.
"We had a game plan, and every game, they've been actually getting a little bit better with being in the right places and really thinking about the pressing or out lead shapes and whatnot," head coach
Ali Johnstone said. "It's going to come down to the final details of finishing on our opportunities and limiting them. It's details, and we need to make sure that they don't beat themselves up, because we were in overtime and it was a back and forth game. So I'm more proud of them for how they played."
In goal, graduate student
Macy Lotze (Louisville, Ky.) played all 63 minutes, allowing two goals and making eight saves.
The first quarter saw both teams battle for possession with each team generating one penalty corner. However, neither team were unable to generate enough offense to result in a goal.
Ohio appeared to score early in the second quarter, however, it was challenged and overturned due to a foot foul, keeping the game scoreless in the opening minutes of the second quarter. Both teams continued to battle for offensive possession, with the Bobcats recording multiple shots on goal, unfortunately, neither would result in a goal.
Kent State struck as time expired in the second quarter, giving the Flashes a 1-0 lead entering halftime.
At the half, Kent State outshot the Bobcats 5-0, with four shots on goal, compared to Ohio's two. Meanwhile, Ohio recorded two penalty corners, compared to Kent States' one.
Both teams battled for possession at the start of the third, with Kent State recording back-to-back penalty corners, however the Ohio defense was able to keep the Flashes off the board and keep the one goal deficit.
Ohio struck in the 38
th minute, knotting the game at 1-1 after a penalty corner resulted in Littlefield's fourth goal of the season off an assist from Plaehn. Kent State threatened again as the minutes ticked by in third quarter, drawing a penalty corner. However, junior
Emily Risser (Palmyra, Pa.) was able to register the defensive save on the Kent State shot, keeping the game tied at 1-1 going into the final quarter.
In the fourth quarter both offensives battled and generated several solid changes that did not result on a goal. The best chance for the Flashes game in the final minute of regulation on a shot from the circle that was saved Lotze, securing the 1-1 tie and sending the game into overtime.
"We changed our shape," Johnstone said. "I thought we were being a little too predictable. Their press against our different shape was interesting, but we needed our center forward to be in the pocket a little more. We missed out on that, but our team fixed it."
Ohio got the first chance in overtime, drawing a penalty corner. However, the Bobcats would not capitalize. Then moments later, Kent State would end the match on a goal on a shot and the ball was rolling out of bounds, just out of reach of Lotze, securing the 2-1 win for the Flashes.
Up next, the Bobcats head to Muncie, Ind. for their final road match of the season on Friday, Oct. 25. Game time is set for 3 p.m.
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