Sports
Bobcats Blanked By Purdue In Second Game
By: Kellen Becoats
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The Ohio soccer team fell behind within the first ten minutes of the game and never fully recovered from their early deficit as they lost their second game of the season to Purdue 2-0 on Sunday, Aug. 24 in West Lafayette, Ind.
The Bobcats (0-2-0), playing in their final game of the Boilermaker Challenge Cup, found themselves behind to the hosts in the sixth minute as they once again struggled to win the battle in the air. Purdue’s freshman forward Nicole Robertson sent in a cross from the right side of the box and found freshman Erika Arkans for the first goal of the game.
The header came at point blank range and left Ohio junior goalkeeper Nicole Amari with no real chance of getting to the ball.
Purdue (1-1-0) were the dominant team from that point going forward, especially on the offensive side of the ball. The Boilermakers recorded ten shots in the first half and 12 in the second half, which forced Amari into ten total saves to keep the Bobcats in the game.
One of the shots that escaped her came in the second half, when another Purdue cross was not properly dealt with and landed at the feet of Robertson who tapped it in to effectively seal the game for the Boilermakers.
Ohio searched in vain for a goal, racking up six shots in the second half, two of which came after the second goal, but Purdue’s defense was solid and looked non-yielding.
The Boilermaker offense didn’t seem content with the two-goal lead and continually peppered Amari with shots, but the Bobcats ‘keeper was strong in between the posts, and the Ohio defense tracked their marks well and got a block in the dying minutes of the game.
Ultimately, the early goal and the Bobcats’ struggle to deal with crosses cost them the game, and handed them their second loss in as many games. Ohio will hope to tighten up that part of its game as it prepares take on Wright State, who have a player who is recorded at 5 foot 10 inches tall, and has the potential to be very dangerous in the air.
And with all of Ohio’s players, bar freshman midfielder/defender Megan Niebhur, being under 5-foot-10-inches, it might be a long game in the air for the Bobcats.
The game will be played at Wright State on Friday, Aug. 29 at 5 p.m.