Sports
Ohio Shuts Out Western Michigan, 1-0
By: Kellen Becoats
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Senior Liz Finley’s lone goal in the 64th minute proved the difference as the Ohio soccer team overcame its first Mid-American Conference road game of the season, beating MAC West leaders Western Michigan University, 1-0, on Friday.
Finley’s goal, which resulted from a loose ball in front of the Broncos’ (8-3, 2-1) goal, was her first of the season and was assisted by sophomore Alli Cislo, who had come on less than a minute before.
The Bobcats (5-6, 2-1) then went on to hang on for the remainder of the half, absorbing pressure from Western Michigan, drawing a yellow card on the Broncos’ Kylie Nylen and trading fouls and substitutions to keep fresh legs on the pitch.
Before the goal, it looked as if Ohio would be the first to concede. Western Michigan saw its first effort on goal saved by senior Nicole Amari within the first few seconds of the game. But the Broncos only managed to test Amari one more time as the Ohio goalkeeper had two saves on eight shots.
While the Bobcats only managed three shots on goal and one on target, it was that lone shot on goal that proved to be the difference in the game and the Ohio backline defended admirably.
Western Michigan came into Friday’s contest on a three-game winning streak and ranked as No. 9 in the NSCAA//Continental Tire Great Lakes Regional Poll. The Broncos were also leading the MAC with eight wins and hadn’t been beaten at home, not having conceded a goal in 378 minutes of soccer.
With renewed confidence after the win at Western Michigan, the Bobcats end their two-game road trip at Northern Illinois on Sunday at 1 p.m. The Huskies were 4-6 (2-0 in MAC) heading into Friday and second in the MAC West.