Sports
Weekend Recap: Ohio Ties Akron, Defeats Buffalo
< < Back to weekend-recap-ohio-ties-akron-defeats-buffaloOhio entered the weekend, looking for a win after losing two of its past three conference games. The Bobcats (6-4-4, 2-2-2) exited the weekend with a 1-0 win over the Buffalo Bulls (4-7-2, 1-5-0) on Sunday and a 2-2 tie against the Akron Zips (4-6-3, 1-3-1) on Friday.
Ohio goalkeeper Mattie Liston had a big weekend with 15 total saves, seven against Akron and eight against Buffalo. The senior now has 60 saves on the season and 356 in her career, which is seventh in MAC history.
Buffalo and Akron outshot the Bobcats, 47-21, in the two games. Ohio hasn’t been getting the same number of shot opportunities and corner kicks recently, as it has averaged just 10.6 shots per game in its last five games, compared to its opponents’ average of 20.4.
In spite of this, Ohio has still been in games this October, going 1-1-2 and scoring 1.25 goals a game. The Bobcats’ 2-2-2 conference record has them currently sitting in third place of the Mid-American Conference East Division.
Akron 2, Ohio 2
The Bobcats got on the scoreboard first when Holly Harris knocked in her third goal of the season off a Carly Manso assist in the 15th minute, but Akron quickly responded with two goals within the next 13 minutes.
Lani Smith and Kelly DeNiro both found each other in the 23rd and 28th minutes to put Akron up, 2-1. It was Smith’s fifth goal of the season and DeNiro’s second.
Ohio had just two shots in the first half compared to the Zips’ 12, as Akron headed into half with a 2-1 lead.
Akron held the one goal lead until the 69th minute, when freshman Allison Cislo found the back of the net off Manso’s second assist of the game. It was Cislo’s lone shot on goal, and it was the final goal of the game.
Akron had 24 total shots and nine on goal. Liston’s seven saves kept the Bobcats in Friday’s game.
Ohio 1, Buffalo 0
The Bobcats’ second away game of the weekend was similar to the game at Akron, but Liston allowed zero of the Bulls’ 23 shots to cross the goal line in the 90-minute regulation game.
Both teams entered halftime scoreless, but Buffalo had the 7-5 shot advantage. The Bobcats quickly responded out of halftime, though.
Ohio’s Liz Finley scored her third goal of the season in the 46th minute on an assist by Manso. Finley’s goal one minute into the second half proved to be the game-winner.
Liston once again kept Ohio in the game with eight saves and by controlling a Buffalo team that had 16 shots in the second half.
The Bobcats return to Chessa Field this upcoming weekend for a pair of games against Eastern Michigan and Western Michigan. The Eagles will come to Athens, Ohio, on Friday at 4 p.m., while the Broncos will travel to play Ohio on Sunday at 1 p.m.