PAW PRINTS: The Week Ahead on Ohio Athletics

Sunday, September 20

East Lansing, Mich.

2026 Mary Fossum Invitational

PAW PRINTS: The Week Ahead on Ohio Athletics

9/21/2026 4:19:00 PM | Baseball, Field Hockey, Football, General, Men's Cross Country, Men's Golf, Women's Cross Country, Women's Golf, Women's Soccer, Women's Volleyball

ATHENS, Ohio – Ohio football is back on The Frank this Saturday, while field hockey returns home on Friday! Check out everything that's ahead for Ohio Athletics in this week's Paw Prints.

FOOTBALL
Sept. 26 / vs Stonehill / Athens, Ohio / Frank Solich Field at Peden Stadium / 3:30 p.m. ET / ESPN+ / Watch / Live Stats / Listen / Ohio Notes / Stonehill Notes / Digital Guide / Tickets / Wear White & Family Weekend

The Ohio football team (1-2) is back in action for its last non-conference game against Stonehill on Saturday, Sept. 26. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET on Frank Solich Field inside Peden Stadium and can be seen on ESPN+ with Bill Spaulding and Doc Holliday on the call. The Bobcats' matchup can also be heard on The Varsity Sports Network. 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 part of the broadcasts for more than two decades.

This matchup marks the first time the two teams have clashed.

Ohio is coming off a 41-36 defeat at South Alabama on Saturday, which included many strong individual performances and numerous first career starts. Junior quarterback Matt Vezza got his first career start as a Bobcat, completing 12-of-16 passes for 113 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 46 yards. Graduate student running back Victor Rosa also started for the first time this season, leading Ohio on the ground with 78 rushing yards and one touchdown. Redshirt sophomore wide receiver Riley Neer had another standout game, hauling in two touchdown receptions on six catches for 61 yards. Redshirt sophomore wide receiver Dom Dorwart is coming off his best game of the season, making five catches for 61 yards and scoring his first touchdown of the season. Defensively, redshirt senior Michael Molnar broke his career-high for the second consecutive game, making 16 total tackles, including nine solo stops and one tackle for loss. Ohio's secondary also posted a strong performance, with redshirt junior safety DJ Walker and redshirt sophomore safety JT Haskins combining for 17 tackles, with Walker making three tackles for loss in the backfield.

Stonehill is 1-3 this season after falling to fellow Mid-American Conference opponent UMass. Stonehill's lone win on the season came in week two against New Haven, where quarterback Jack O'Connell completed 14 passes for 192 yards and two touchdowns. In addition to O'Connell, quarterback Drew Eason also saw action in their previous game, completing six passes for 65 yards with one passing touchdown.

WOMEN'S GOLF
Sept. 20-21 / at 2026 Mary Fossum Invitational / East Lansing, Mich. / Forest Akers West Golf Club / All Day / Live Results

Ohio Women's Golf is then back in action Sept. 20-21 when they head to East Lansing, Michigan. for the 2026 Mary Fossum Invitational. The two-day event is hosted by Michigan State at the Forest Akers West Golf Club. The tournament begins on Sunday, Sept. 20 with 36 holes, before wrapping up on Monday with 18 holes.

Teams competing at the 2026 Mary Fossum Invitational are Central Michigan, Oakland, Kent State, Rutgers, Michigan State, Youngstown State, Delaware, FIU, Western Michigan, Kennesaw State, Northern Illinois, Illinois State, Bowling Green, Ohio and Grand Valley State.

Ohio is coming off a sixth-place finish at the 2026 Rocket Classic Sept. 14-15.

As a team, Ohio opened up day one, shooting a 317 (+33), finishing the round in third. In the second round, Ohio shot a 317 (+33) again, finishing the day in sixth. The Bobcats finished the third round shooting a 312 (+28), finishing the invitational in sixth place. Zoe Luebbers was the highest finisher for the Bobcats, placing fifth overall. In the first round, Luebbers opened the round shooting an 80 (+9), which placed her in 24th place. In the second round, Luebbers shot a 74 (+3), which helped her finish the day in 10th overall. On day two of the invitational, Luebbers shot a 72 (+1), which propelled her into fifth place. Overall, Luebbers finished the invitational with a score of 226 (+13)

FIELD HOCKEY
Sept. 25 / vs. App State / Athens, Ohio / Pruitt Field / 3 p.m. ET / ESPN+ / Watch / Live Stats
Sept. 27 / at Bellarmine / Louisville, Ky. / Trager Stadium (UofL) / 12 p.m. ET / ESPN+ / Watch / Live Stats

Field hockey (2-4, 0-1 MAC) is back in action this weekend for two MAC matchups. The weekend begins on Friday, Sept. 25 when the Bobcats host App State (5-3, 1-0 MAC). First touch is set for 3 p.m. ET at Pruitt Field and can be seen on ESPN+. Ohio then hits the road to Louisville, Ky. to face off with Bellarmine (0-6, 0-1 MAC). First touch is set fro Noon ET and can be seen on ESPN+.

Junior Deborah James leds the Bobcats so far this season with three goals, and assist and seven points, while sophomore Tori Cisney has recorded two goals and four points. Through six games, junior goalkeeper Moll Schreiner has recorded 48 saves for a .706 save percentage.

App State is currently 5-3 overall and 1-0 in MAC play after defeating Bellarmine at home on Friday. Chloe Hook leads App State with five goals, one assist and 11 points, while goalkeeper Dakota Anderson has started all eight games, allwoing 17 goals and making 59 saves for a .776 save percentage.

Bellarmine is 0-6 overall and 0-1 in MAC play after falling to App State on Friday and will face off with Longwood this coming Friday before heading to Athens. Mia Booth leads Bellarmine with one goal and two points.

VOLLEYBALL
Sept. 25 / at Eastern Michigan / Ypsilanti, Mich. / Gervin GameAbove Center / 4 p.m. ET / ESPN+ / Watch / Live Stats
Sept. 26 / at Central Michigan / Mount Pleasant, Mich. / McGuirk Arena / 5:30 p.m. ET / ESPN+ / Watch / Live Stats

Ohio volleyball (7-4, 0-0 MAC) kicks off conference play on the road this week. The Bobcats will travel to Eastern Michigan for a matchup on Friday, Sept. 25 at 4 p.m. ET. Ohio will hit the road to play at Central Michigan on Saturday, Sept. 26 at 5:30 p.m. ET. Both games will be streamed on ESPN+.

Ohio has a 7-4 overall record heading into MAC competition. The Bobcats average 13.89 kills, 12.75 assists, 1.50 aces, 12.28 digs and 1.61 blocks per set. Ohio currently has a .261 team hitting percentage.

Eastern Michigan has a 6-6 overall record heading into MAC competition. The Eagles average 11.64 kills, 10.70 assists, 1.84 aces, 14.48 digs and 2.36 blocks per set. Eastern Michigan currently has a .184 team hitting percentage.

Central Michigan has a 0-13 overall record heading into MAC competition. The Chippewas average 9.46 kills, 8.71 assists, 0.93 aces, 11.85 assists and 1.83 blocks per set. Central Michigan currently has a .117 team hitting percentage.

CROSS COUNTRY
Sept. 25 / at Sean Earl Loyola Lakefront Invitational / Chicago, Ill. / Sydney R. Marovitz Golf Course / Women's 6k: 10 a.m. ET; Men's 8k: 10:40 a.m. ET / Live Results

The Ohio men's and women's cross country teams return after a short break as they prepare to travel to the 47^th Sean Earl Loyola Lakefront Invitational on Friday, Sept. 25. The Tom Cooney Championship women's 6k and men's 8k races are set for 10:00 a.m. and 10:40 a.m. ET. The women's 6k and men's 8k open race will take place at 11:20 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. ET.

Last time out, the men's and women's teams both placed fourth at Michigan State's Spartan Invitational. Senior Ellie Greenwell (Park Hills, Ky.) was Ohio's top female performer for the second week in a row. Greenwell was the first Bobcat to cross the finish line, placing 10^th overall with a personal-best time of 21:22.7. Junior Michael Dellasanta (Columbus, Ohio) was the first Bobcat to cross the finish line, taking 14^th place overall with a time of 24:53.6.

SOCCER
Sept. 27 / at Akron / Akron, Ohio / FirstEnergy Stadium / 1 p.m. ET / ESPN+ / Watch / Live Stats

This week, Ohio soccer (3-5-0, 0-2-0 MAC) is back in action on Sunday, Sept. 27 when they head to Akron, Ohio to take on Akron (4-4-1, 0-0-1). First touch is set for 1 p.m. ET inside FirstEnergy Stadium and can be seen on ESPN+.

Ohio is coming off an 0-2 start to MAC play, falling to WMU and UMass. Senior Jaimason Brooker lead Ohio with three goals, an assist and seven points, while five Bobcats have recorded four points this season. In goal, freshman Ayla Rammel has played in seven games and made six starts, recording a .723 save percentage.

Akron is currently 4-4-1 overall and 0-1-1 in MAC play after falling to Miami on Thursday and drawing with Bowling Green on Sunday. Rachel Wenzel leds the Zips with five goals and 10 points, while Addison Hall has two goals, one assist and five points. In goal, Sara Bower has made nine starts, allowing 10 goals and making 33 saves for a .767 save percentage.

MEN'S GOLF
Sept. 27-29/ at 2026 Badger Invitational / Madison, Wis. / University Ridge Golf Course / All Day / Live Results

Ohio men's golf is back in action Sept. 27-29 when they head to Madison, Wisconsin. for the 2026 Badger Invitational. The three-day event is hosted by Wisconsin at the University Ridge Golf Course. The 2026 Badger Invitational will see three days of competition with 18 holes played each day starting on Sunday.

Competing at this year's event are; Illinois State, Western Kentucky, Western Carolina, North Dakota, Drake, Southern Mississippi, Valpo, Wisconsin, Oakland, North Dakota State, South Dakota State, App State, Green Bay, Ohio, Northern Illinois, South Dakota, St. Thoma, Omaha and Sourthern Illinois.

Ohio opened the season at the RedHawk Intercollegiate Sept. 14-15, finishing in a tie for 13th place. Sophomore Rylan Hall led the way for Ohio throughout the tournament, shooting five over par for the week that included a second round 68, which was tied for ninth among all golfers in the second round. That 68 featured an eagle, one of 21 combined eagles across all teams during the week.

BASEBALL
Sept. 25 / vs Hocking College / Athens, Ohio / Bob Wren Stadium / 4 p.m. ET

Ohio baseball is set to kick off its 2026 fall schedule this week at Bob Wren Stadium. The Bobcats will host Hocking College on Friday, Sept. 25. First pitch is set for 4 p.m. ET.

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