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ATHENS, Ohio – Happy Homecoming Bobcats! It's a fun filled week in Athens with football, volleyball, soccer and field hockey all making a push in the MAC standings. Check out everything that's ahead for Ohio Athletics in this week's Paw Prints, presented by Memorial Health System.
FOOTBALL
Oct. 18 / vs. Northern Illinois / Athens, Ohio / Frank Solich Field at Peden Stadium / 3:30 p.m. ET / ESPN+ / Watch / Live Stats / Listen / Ohio Notes / NIU Notes / Digital Guide / Tickets
The Ohio football team (3-3,1-1 MAC) is back in Athens for a Homecoming celebration on Saturday, Oct. 18 when Ohio hosts Northern Illinois (1-5, 0-2 MAC) for the final time as a member of the MAC. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET at Frank Solich Field at Peden Stadium and can be seen on ESPN+. The Bobcats' matchup can also be heard on the Ohio Sports Network from Learfield, presented by Holzer Health System. Veteran Ohio radio personality Marty Bannister is reprising his role as Ohio's play-by-play broadcaster. Bannister will be joined by color analyst Rob Cornelius, who has been a part of the broadcasts for more than two decades.
This matchup marks the Bobcats' and the Huskies' 26th time meeting since 1968 and the final time the pair will face-off as conference opponents; the series record is 11-14 overall; the last time the teams met in 2023, Ohio fell, 23-13.
Ohio is coming off a bye week after falling to Ball State, 20-14, on Oct. 4 in Muncie, Ind. On offense, the Bobcats were led by graduate student quarterback Parker Navarro who passed for 188 yards and one touchdown. Receiving the touchdown from Navarro was redshirt junior wide receiver Rodney Harris. The touchdown for Harris marked the first of his collegiate career. Junior wide receiver Chase Hendricks recorded a game-high 104 receiving yards. Defensively, senior safety Adonis Williams Jr. and redshirt junior linebacker Michael Molnar led the team with 11 tackles each. Redshirt sophomore defensive end Jay Crable led the team with two tackles for loss. As a whole, the Ohio defense tied a season-high with nine tackles for a loss.
The Ohio defense forced four turnovers in the game, two of which were forced by graduate student linebacker Cameron Hollobaugh. In the first half, Hollobaugh started the game with a pick-six before forcing a fumble to start the second half. Also involved in the turnovers was redshirt sophomore defensive end Jay Crable, who recorded a pressure on the interception and a recovery on the fumble. Crable's incredible game also included a program-record tying three sacks. Leading Ohio in tackles was again redshirt junior linebacker Michael Molnar with 10. To end the game, redshirt sophomore cornerback DJ Walker hauled in an interception to end Bowling Green's hopes at a comeback.
NIU is 1-5 overall and 0-2 in conference play after falling at Eastern Michigan on Saturday, 16-10. Running back Telly Johnson Jr. rushed for a season-high 137 yards on 12 carries, including an 80-yard touchdown run to highlight his third career 100-yard rushing game. Quarterback Brady Davidson threw for 96 yards. Defensively, Jasper Beeler led NIU with a career-high 11 tackles.
WOMEN'S GOLF
Oct. 13-14 / at 2025 Dayton Flyer Fall Invitational / Kettering, Ohio / NCR Country Club / All Day / Live Results
The Ohio women's gold team returns to action Oct. 13-14 for the 2025 Dayton Flyer Fall Invitational. The two-day event is hosted by Dayton at the NCR Country Club in Kettering, Ohio. The two-day event begins on Monday, Oct. 13 for two 18-hole rounds, before wrapping up the week with one round on Tuesday, Oct. 14.
Competing at this year's event are Ohio Northern, Kent Sate, Akron, UIC, Western Michigan, Dayton, Tennessee Tech., Ohio State, Kennesaw State, Northern Kentucky, Toledo, Bowling Green, Ohio and Butler.
On the course, senior Mackenzie McRee, junior Morgan Rodgers, junior Zoe Luebbers, freshman Katie Husted, junior Ally Turner, senior Alaina Nugent and freshman Treherne will see action for the Bobcats and compete as individuals.
Ohio is coming off a tournament championship at the 2025 Rocket Classic last week in Toeldo, Ohio. As a team, Ohio opened day one, shooting a 312 (+24), finishing the first round in third place. The Bobcats were able to bounce back in the second round, shooting a 301 (+13) that propelled them into first place to finish out day one. With the rainy conditions, day two of the Classic was canceled, leading Ohio to the overall victory. Ohio finished with an overall score of 613 (+37). It was the second-straight year that Ohio won the Rocket Classic.
MEN'S GOLF
Oct. 13-14 / at 2025 Purdue Fall Invitational / West Lafayette, Ind. / Kampen-Cosler Golf Course / All Day / Live Results
The Ohio men's golf team returns to action Oct. 13-14 at the 2025 Purdue Fall Invitational hosted by Purdue at the Kampen-Cosler Golf Course in West Lafayette, Ind. The tournament begins on Monday, Oct. 13 with 58 holes, before concluding the event on Tuesday, Oct. 14 with the final 18 holes.
Teams competing at this year's event are; Illinois State, Western Kentucky, Ball State, Purdue Fort Wayne, Valpo, Loyola-Chicago, Oakland, Toledo, South Dakota State, Nebraska, Purdue, Ohio, Northern Illinois, Southern Illinois, and Butler.
Competing for Ohio at this years event are seniors Carson Trafford, Jack O'Donnell, Nathaniel Gray Lamont and Will Kates, and freshman Rylan Hall.
Ohio is coming off a fourth-place finish at the 2025 Carolina Cup Sept. 28-29. As a team, Ohio opened the tournament with a score of 295 in Sunday's round one. In round two played over the course of Sunday and Monday, the Bobcats improved with a score of 293. Ohio closed with a score of 306 in Monday's third and final round. Ohio was led by Carson Trafford, who opened with a one under par 71 on Sunday, tied for the ninth best round of the day. He followed with a 74 in the second round and closed with a final round 77 for a total of 225 (+7) to tie for 11th overall.
SOCCER
Oct. 16 / vs Buffalo / Athens, Ohio / Chessa Field / 4 p.m. ET / ESPN+ / Watch / Live Stats / Digital Guide
Oct. 19 / vs Northern Illinois / Athens, Ohio / Chessa Field / 1 p.m. ET / YouTube / Watch / Live Stats / Digital Guide
The Ohio soccer team (3-7-5, 1-3-4 MAC) is back in Athens for two pivotal MAC matchups starting on Thursday, Oct. 16 when the Bobcats host Buffalo (10-3-1, 6-2-0 MAC). First touch is set for 4 p.m. ET and can be seen on ESPN+. Ohio is back on the pitch on Sunday, Oct. 19 when they host Northern Illinois (4-6-3, 2-3-2 MAC). First touch is set for 1 p.m. ET and can be streamed on YouTube.
Buffalo comes to Athens with an overall record of 10-3-1 and a 6-2-0 mark in MAC play. The Bulls are coming off a 1-0 victory over CMU on Sunday in Buffalo. Meanwhile, NIU is 4-5-3 overall and 2-3-3 in conference play. The Huskies are coming off a 1-0 loss at Kent State Sunday afternoon and will host Bowling Green on Thursday before coming to Athens. Both NIU and Buffalo sit above the Bobcats in the MAC standings, as Ohio looks to battle their way into the top-six.
Ohio is coming off a 0-1-1 week where they fell on the road at Kent State 1-0, before finishing the weekend with a 1-1 draw at Toledo on Sunday. Graduate student Quintin Tostevin scored Ohio's lone goal on Sunday.
VOLLEYBALL
Oct. 16 / vs. Eastern Michigan / Athens, Ohio / Convocation Center / 6 p.m. ET / YouTube / Watch / Live Stats / Digital Guide / Tickets
Oct. 17 / vs. Eastern Michigan / Athens, Ohio / Convocation Center / 3 p.m. ET / ESPN+ / Watch / Live Stats / Digital Guide / Tickets
The Ohio volleyball team (5-14, 3-4 MAC) is back in Athens for two Homecoming matchups starting on Thursday, Oct. 16 when Ohio hosts Eastern Michigan (10-10, 2-5 MAC) at 6 p.m. ET inside the Convocation Center. The match can be streamed on YouTube. The Bobcats wrap up the weekend on Friday, Oct. 17 for it's send battle with Eastern Michigan. First serve is set for 3 p.m. ET and can be seen on ESPN+.
Eastern Michigan is 10-10 overall and 2-5 in MAC play. The Eagles are coming off 2-1 week that saw EMU defeat Kent State twice in Ypsilanti, and falling to Central Michigan in Mount Pleasant.
Ohio is coming off a commanding three-win week that saw Ohio sweep Kent State and Miami, before finishing the weekend sweep with a 3-1 win over the RedHawks on Saturday in Athens.
On Friday in Athens, Junior Emily Waddell had a stellar night against the RedHawks. Waddell recorded a career-high 14 kills and no errors on 18 total attacks. That resulted in a career-high .778 attack percentage for the junior. Senior Kendall White distributed a team-high 46 assists. Junior Gentry Brown and freshman Bailey Blair contributed 12 and 10 kills, respectively. Brown also tallied seven digs. On Saturday, Ohio finished with a .272 attack percentage, 60 kills, six aces, 12 blocks, 55 assists and 64 digs. Miami finished with a .112 attack percentage, 40 kills, three aces, six blocks, 38 assists and 57 digs.
CROSS COUNTRY
Oct. 17 / at Panorama Farms Invitational / Charlottesville, Va. / Panorama Farms / M8k: 8:45 a.m.ET; W6k: 9:30 a.m. ET / Live Results / Meet Information
Oct. 17 / at Falcon Invitational / Bowling Green, Ohio / Mel Brodt Cross Country Course / M8k: 4:30 p.m. ET; W6k: 5:10 p.m. ET / Live Results / Meet Information
The Ohio men's and women's cross country teams are back in action for two meets this weekend. The first meet some of the Bobcats will participate in on Friday, Oct. 17 is the 2025 Panorama Farms Invitational hosted by Virginia at Panorama Farms. The men's 8k is set to begin at 8:45 a.m. ET, with the women's 6k scheduled for 9:30 a.m. ET. The second event of the day that will see some Bobcats is the 2025 Falcon Invitational hosted by Bowling Green at the Mel Brodt Cross Country Course. The men's 8k is set to begin at 4:30 p.m. ET, with the women's 6k scheduled to begin at 5:10 p.m. ET.
Ohio last competed Oct. 3 at the 2025 Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational in South Bend, Ind. The women's team placed sixth out of a field of 17 teams, beating MAC opponents Miami and Western Michigan in the women's blue 5k race. The men's team finished 17th in the men's blue 8k race. The top five finishers for Ohio in the women's blue 5k race all recorded program best times. Senior Allie Martin was the first Bobcat to cross the finish line. Martin placed 29th with the second-fastest time in program history (16:48.8, PR). Junior Andrew Bracken was the first Bobcat to cross the finish line in the men's blue 8k race. Bracken placed 33rd overall with third-fastest time in program history (23:42.2, PR).
FIELD HOCKEY
Oct. 17 / at Kent State / Kent, Ohio / Murphy-Mellis Field / 2 p.m. ET / Boxcast / Watch / Live Stats
Oct. 19 / vs. Longwood / Athens, Ohio / Pruitt Field / 12 p.m. ET / ESPN+ / Watch / Live Stats / Digital Guide
The Ohio field hockey team (4-9, 2-3 MAC) is back in action for two important MAC matchups this weekend. The week begins on Friday, Oct. 17 when Ohio heads to Kent, Ohio to take on Kent State (3-8, 2-3 MAC). Gametime is set for 2 p.m. ET and will be streamed on Boxcast. Ohio then returns to Athens on Sunday, Oct. 19 at 12 p.m. ET to take on Longwood (3-9, 1-4 MAC) at Pruitt Field, which can be seen on ESPN+.
Kent State is currently 3-8 overall with a 2-3 mark in MAC play, with Ohio sitting two-points above the Flashes in the MAC standings. Kent State comes into the matchup with Ohio after defeating Bellarmine, 3-0, on Friday in Louisville, Ky. Meanwhile, Longwood is 3-9 overall and 1-4 in MAC play. The Lancers are coming off a 5-0 loss to No. 16 UMass last Friday in Amherst. Longwood will take on App State on Friday at home before coming to Athens on Sunday afternoon.
Ohio is coming off a 1-0 week that saw the Bobcats defeat Ball State, 1-0, in Athens on Friday. Individually, the Bobcats were led by freshman Tiana Nhamoinesu, who scored her first goal as a Bobcat to give Ohio a 1-0 lead they would not relinquish. Continuing a trend, the Bobcats turned in another stellar defensive performance, led by sophomore Deborah James who came up with crucial stops throughout the game to stymie the Cardinal attack. In the cage, sophomore Ash Stephenson stopped all three shots faced to record her second clean sheet of the season.
#OUohyeah
