ATHENS, Ohio – The Ohio field hockey team (2-9, 1-3 MAC) returned to Athens on Friday afternoon (Oct. 3), falling to Bellarmine (2-8, 2-2 MAC), 1-0, in a shootout at Pruitt Field.
 
Overall, Ohio outshot Bellarmine 21-1 with seven shots on goal compared to one from the Knights. Ohio also registered 10 penalty corners compared to one from Bellarmine. 

Individually, senior Anouk Plaehn (Hanover, Germany) recorded four shots with two on goal, while junior Natalie LaFleur (Fredericksburg, Va.) added three attempts. Freshman Adi Geer (Newport, Pa.) recorded two shots with one on goal, as did freshman Karley DuCoin (Turnersville, NJ). Senior Sasha Dikotla (Johannesburg, South Africa) recorded three shots with one on goal, while sophomore Deborah James (Hertfordshire, England) and freshman Tiana Nhamoinesu (Thirsk, North Yorkshire) both had a shot on goal apiece. 

In goal, senior Gwen Hershberger (Harrison City, Pa.) got the start and played all 80 minutes in goal and did not allow a goal through both overtimes. 

Bellarmine opened the game with two quick penalty corners, however, a defensive save by senior Emily Risser (Palmyra, Pa.) kept the Knights off the board. In the 11^th minute, the Bobcats had the best chance of the quarter, when Geer fired the ball at the cage, but it hit the post, keeping the game tied at 0-0. Ohio continued to keep the pressure on Bellarmine over the remaining minutes, but were unable to score, sending the game to the second quarter still scoreless. 

Ohio drew a penalty corner quickly in the second quarter, with Ohio recording three-straight shots from James, Dikotla and sophomore Addy Basile (Lewes, Del.), however the Bellarmine defense was able to keep the Bobcats off the board. The Ohio defense stymied the Knights' offense over the rest of the second quarter; however, the Bobcats were unable to capitalize on the offensive side, sending the game to the half with the game still tied at 0-0. 

At the half, Ohio outshot Bellarmine 6-1, with three shots on goal compared to one from the Knights, while Bellarmine had two penalty corners compared to one from the Bobcats. 

The third quarter saw the Bobcats hold possession in the offensive end, with Geer recording an attempt in the 38^th minute that the Bellarmine keeper was forced to save. Ohio continued to press, drawing three penalty corners over the remainder of the quarter, however, the Bobcats were unable to capitalize on several chances, sending the game to the final quarter still tied at 0-0. 

The fourth quarter began as the third ended, with the Bobcats keeping pressure up on the Bellarmine defense. Ohio was able to draw penalty corners in the 53^rd and 55^th minutes, registering shots for sophomore Marie De Grande (Groot-Bijgaarden, Belgium) and Plaehn, however, the Knights' defense was able to the Bobcats off the board. Ohio and Bellarmine continued to battle, with time running out and sending the game to overtime still tied at 0-0. 

Over the next 20 minutes of 7-on-7 overtime play, Ohio controlled the tempo but was unable to capitalize on chances in the Bellarmine offensive zone. Then during the shootout period, Bellarmine was able to take advantage, defeating the Bobcats, 5-3, in the shootout for the 1-0 victory. 

Up next, the Bobcats are back in Athens on Sunday, Oct. 5 when Ohio hosts Queens. First touch is set for 1 p.m. ET and can be seen on ESPN+. Sunday will also serve as Senior Day for the Bobcats with a pregame ceremony. 

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