Ohio Soccer Falls in Hard-Fought Battle to WMU in MAC Opener

Thursday, September 17

Athens, Ohio

4 p.m ET

3-4-0, 0-1-0

Western Michigan

3-2-3, 1-0-0

Team	1	2	Final F
Western Mich.	0	3	3
Ohio	2	0	2

Digital Guide

Ohio Soccer Falls in Hard-Fought Battle to WMU in MAC Opener

9/17/2026 8:12:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

ATHENS, Ohio – The Ohio soccer team (3-4-0, 0-1-0 MAC) opened Mid-American Conference play Thursday afternoon (Sept.17), falling to Western Michigan (3-2-3, 1-0-0 MAC) in the final minutes, 3-2.

Overall, Ohio scored two goals on 12 shots with nine on goal, while Western Michigan scored three goals on 15 shots with nine on goal. Western Michigan registered three corners, compared to Ohio's four.

Overall, junior Iro Fakinou (Athens, Greece) scored one goal on two shots with one on goal, while senior Ella Deevers (Streetsboro, Ohio) added a goal on one shot. Sophomore McKenna Hogan (Chatham, N.J.) added an assist for the Bobcats, while junior Sania Dearing (Pickerington, Ohio) recorded four shots with two on goal. Senior Jaimason Brooker (Powell, Ohio) registered three shots with three on goal, with freshmen Ava Bell (Hudson, Ohio) and Camille Francis (Perrysburg, Ohio) both recording an attempt on goal.

In goal, freshman Ayla Rammel (Englewood, Ohio) got the start, allowing three goals and making six saves in 90 minutes.

Ohio came out of the game on fire, taking an early 1-0 lead when Hogan found Fakinou, who buried it past the WMU keeper in the 12^th minute, putting the Bobcats up early. Ohio kept up the pressure, and just three minutes later in the 14^th minute, Deevers scored unassisted to put Ohio up 2-0.

After the hydration break, the WMU offense picked up the pressure, but the Ohio defense held steady, keeping the 2-0 lead at the half.

At the half, Ohio recorded nine shots to WMU's five, while the Broncos took one corner kick to the Bobcats' three.

Western Michigan took control of the second half, cutting the Ohio lead to one in the 54th minute on an unassisted goal. As the Bobcats looked to regain the two-goal advantage, the Bronco's offensive pressure kept up and just 10 minutes later tied the game at 2-2 in the 64^th minute.

The Ohio offense looked to respond, but the pressure of the Broncos kept up. Ultimately, in the 88th minute, Western Michigan converted a penalty kick, taking a 3-2 lead with just under two minutes to go. The Bobcats were unable to generate the equalize, falling by the 3-2 final.

Up next, the Bobcats are back in action on Sunday, Sept. 20 when the Bobcats host UMass. First touch is set for Noon ET and can be seen on ESPN+.

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