Ohio Field Hockey Falls to Michigan State in Season Opener

Friday, August 28

Athens, Ohio

1 p.m. ET

(0-1, 0-0)

Michigan State

(1-0, 0-0)

Team	1	2	3	4	Final F
Michigan St.	0	1	1	1	3
Ohio	0	0	1	0	1

Ohio Field Hockey Falls to Michigan State in Season Opener

8/28/2026 3:33:00 PM | Field Hockey

Box Score

ATHENS, Ohio – The Ohio field hockey team (0-1) opened the 2026 season Friday afternoon (Aug. 28), falling to Michigan State (1-0), 3-1, at Pruitt Field.

Overall, Ohio scored one goal on seven shots with four on goal and two penalty corners, while Michigan State scored three goals on 20 shots, with 14 on goal and eight penalty corners.

Offensively, junior Deborah James (Hertfordshire, England) scored the first goal of the season for the Bobcats, while also recording two shots on goal. Senior Natalie LaFleur (Fredericksburg, Va.) recorded an assist. Sophomore Tiana Nhamoinesu (Thirsk, North Yorkshire) added two shots with one on goal, while sophomore Iona Roderick (Cardiff, United Kingdom) added two shots and sophomore Ava Florence (Louisville, Ky.) recorded one shot with one on goal.

In goal, junior Molly Schreiner (State College, Pa.) got the start, allowing three goals and making 11 saves in 60 minutes of work.

Michigan State opened the first quarter with offensive control, recording the first shot of the match. Ohio recorded its first attempt in the seventh minute when Roderick's attempt was blocked. The MSU offensive continued to put pressure on the Bobcats, recording three-straight shots, with Schreiner coming in clutch with two saves to keep the match scoreless after the first quarter.

Ohio opened the second quarter on the offense, recording a penalty corner before recording back-to-back scoring attempts, however, the Bobcats would not capitalize. After the two teams traded attempts, the Spartans would strike first in the 24^th minute on a penalty shot, putting MSU up 1-0.

The MSU offense continued to put the pressure on the Bobcats over the remaining minutes of the first half, however the defense would keep them off the board, sending the game into the half with Ohio trailing, 1-0.

At the half, the Bobcats recorded three shots with two on goal and took one penalty corner, while Michigan State scored one goal on 13 hots with six on goal, while taking six penalty corners.

Michigan State added on in the opening minutes of the third quarter, taking a 2-0 lead in the 36^th minute. The Bobcats recorded an attempt in the 40^th minute on a shot by Florence that was saved, keeping the Spartans' two-goal lead.

The Bobcats got on the board at the end of the third quarter. Ohio capitalized on a last-second penalty corner, setting up James for her first goal of the season off an assist from LaFleur, cutting the deficit to 2-1 entering the fourth quarter.

The two teams traded offensive possessions to open the fourth quarter; however, Michigan State added to their lead in the 55^th minute, putting the Spartans up 3-1. Ohio looked to cut into the lead over the remaining five minutes, however, they were unable to capitalize, falling by the final of 3-1.

Ohio is back in action on Sunday, Aug. 30 when the Bobcats host St. Louis. First touch is set for 1 p.m. ET and can be seen on ESPN+.

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