Sports
Ohio Soccer Wins 2-0 in Exhibition Match-Up
By: Tyler Rosten
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The Ohio Women’s Soccer team started off their 2012-13 campaign with a 2-0 win over Eastern Kentucky University at Chessa Field. The scheduled friendly saw some new and returning faces take the field for the Bobcats as they kicked off this season on the right foot.
Going from a senior laden team last season to a squad this year with more freshmen than any other class is a big adjustment for the Ohio Bobcats; however a 2-0 win over Eastern Kentucky showed the process might be farther along down the road than previously thought.
With last year’s starting goalkeeper junior Mattie Liston sitting this game out, the goalie duties fell to redshirt sophomore Rachel Fryan and sophomore Nicole Amarie who have a combined five appearances for the Green and White between them. Fryan started the first half along with new faces freshman defender Grace Campbell, sophomore midfielder Tonya Frasik, and freshman midfielder Sasha Haverchak.
The action was steady to start the game with both teams feeling each other out. Fryan stamped her authority on the first half early coming off her line to make a sliding save and stripping Devon Saini of EKU about 20 yards from goal. The Bobcats did their best to control the pace until the very end of the half. The Colonels tried to rattle Ohio, taking the shot count lead into the half 5-3 but the score was still tied at 0-0.
At the beginning of the second half Nicole Amari relieved Fryan in goal and several familiar faces took the field for the Bobcats. Despite Ohio controlling most of the action and getting some shots on target the score remained deadlocked at zero goals a piece until the 74th minute of play. A corner kick taken by Veronica Rock was headed deeper into the box by striker Maggie Murnane and finished off by Liz Finley.
The Bobcats pushed on with their 1-0 lead, not settling for a close finish. Only five minutes later the ‘Cats struck again with another goal inside the box. After a couple of crosses, Natalie Betchel fed the ball across the middle of the eighteen and senior Cat Rogers fired home a goal on a one time shot. With the 2-0 lead safely intact Ohio cruised to their first win of the 2012-13 season. Despite being outshot 8-6 by Eastern Kentucky, the Colonels were only able to fire one shot on target, while the Bobcats capitalized with four. Ohio was also more dominant on corner kicks, earning five compared to Eastern Kentucky’s two.
While this win won’t count towards the Bobcats’ win total on the season, it’s a good way to kick off another year of Ohio Women’s Soccer. The new faces will need to continue to gel with the old and chemistry will be created throughout the rest of these preseason games. The ‘Cats return to action this Friday, August 17th, as they travel to Dayton to take on Wright State.