Sports
Ohio Drops Regular Season Finale to Kent State
By: Will Price
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The Ohio women’s soccer team clinched a top-four seed in the Mid-American Conference tournament over the weekend, but there were still tournament implications for their game against the Kent State Golden Flashes on Thursday.
The Bobcats (8-7-3, 6-3-2 MAC) were shutout for the first time since Oct. 4 and fell to the Golden Flashes (10-7-2, 6-4-1) 1-0.
The game was physical from the outset, with both teams struggling to get chances early on.
Sydney Leckie registered the only shot on goal for either team in the first half. Kent State did manage some chances with five corner kicks, but Ohio’s defense managed to hold.
A foul with three seconds left in the half gave the Bobcats a free kick from just outside the box, but the shot was blocked, leaving the game at 0-0.
Following the half, Kent State did not waste much time getting on the board. Maddie Holmes converted on a rebound off a free kick just four minutes into the half to put the Golden Flashes in front 1-0.
Ohio’s offense managed to get for the rest of the game, but a superb performance from Kent State redshirt freshman goalkeeper Faith O’Neill kept the Bobcats off the board.
O’Neill deflected a shot from Sarina Dirrig off the post in the 59th minute. She saved all seven shots sent her way as the Golden Flashes notched their second shutout in a row and sixth on the season.
The loss dropped the Bobcats from third to fourth in the conference standings, as Western Michigan jumped ahead by defeating Northern Illinois. This means for the tournament game on Sunday, the Bobcats and Golden Flashes will meet once again in Chessa Field.
Bobcats head coach Aaron Rodgers expressed optimism with the rematch just three days away.
“Now we know what to expect,” Rodgers said. “We’ve seen what their very best was I think, and I think we can raise our game a little bit and get back the rhythm and momentum we had the past few weeks.”
On Sunday, the Bobcats look to win their first MAC tournament since 2004. This is also their first time hosting a tournament game since 2009.
Their rematch against the Golden Flashes kicks off at 1 on Sunday at Chessa field.