Sports
MAC Tournament Hangs In The Balance As Ohio Faces Kent State
By: Abbey Carnivale
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Ohio Field Hockey’s contest on Saturday, Nov. 2, against Kent State has more riding on it than any other game so far this season, even more than the contest with conference rival Miami (Ohio). For Ohio, it’s win and you’re in.
“We have a good rivalry with Kent and it’s that way because the games over the last few years have always been tight, a lot of them have been overtime and it’s been both ways,” head coach Neil Macmillan said. “One team has not dominated for a long period of time.”
The Bobcats are currently ranked fourth in the Mid-American Conference, behind a Kent State team undefeated in the MAC, Central Michigan, and Miami. Behind them at fifth is Ball State, a team threatening Ohio’s chance of reaching the MAC tournament.
Ball State will play a Missouri State team without a conference victory on Sunday, Nov. 3, and a win for the Cardinals would result in a 2-3 MAC record. A loss for the Bobcats Saturday would leave them also with a 2-3 conference record.
“I think there’s a lot more focusing on Kent because the game for us means so much more. We have to win this game,” Macmillan said.
The Flashes have already solidified their spot in first place of the MAC, making their path to the tournament easy.
“They don’t have the urgency to win the game as we do,” Macmillan said. “We need to win this game if we want to get into the tournament and that’s where the focus is”
The matchup this weekend between Miami (2-2 MAC) and Central Michigan (3-2 MAC) could result in even more complications for the conference standings. If the RedHawks can take away a win from the Chippewas, both are left with a 3-2 record.
“I think just really making sure were clicking and know Kent and know ourselves,” senior Riley Higgins explained. “We need to kind of take what we’ve learned throughout the season through our ups and downs and evolving into the best team we can be for Saturday.”