Sports
Ohio Soccer: Ohio tops Central Michigan in a Physical MAC Matchup
By: Logan Leduc
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ATHENS, Ohio — Coming off a 0-1-1 stretch last weekend, the Ohio Soccer team turned its attention to a prolific MAC opponent, The Central Michigan Chippewas (7-3-2, 4-3) on Friday.
The Bobcats (8-6-1, 3-3-1) wasted no time in placing themselves as the aggressor and defended Chessa Field with a physical 2-1 win.
It took all of one minute and seven seconds of game time for the Bobcats to find the net on Alivia Milesky’s 7th goal of the season. Milesky came flying in just right of the box head first to score off a combined assist from Olivia Sensky and Sydney Leckie.
“We knew that this team was going to be very physical and I just told our team to just hold their ground, and just be a big woman and go into tackles like no other. I knew if I was going to go into a tackle, I knew the rest of the team would as well,” Milesky said.
The Chippewas responded 14 minutes later with a score of their own by virtue of a breakaway that was set up by a long and lofted assist by Maddie West culminating in Lauren DeBeau’s 3rd goal of her season, evening the game up at one heading into halftime.
Similar to half number one, Ohio took charge and the lead a little over one minute into the second half off a brilliant feed from Milesky right of the box to set up Sarina Dirrig who tapped the ball into the back left of the net with her left foot. It was Dirrig’s 2nd goal of the season.
“It was big. We were kind of on the fence here going into our last five games, and we absolutely needed six points this weekend and we’ve got our first three and now we need to focus on Sunday,” Dirrig said.
The Chippewas would have their chances but Ohio’s defensive front thwarted any real threat. With 30 seconds remaining, Marle Bringard of Central Michigan narrowly missed right of the goal on a header that would have tied the game.
“I told our team that I’m very proud of us because we were able to show that not only were we able to be physical, but we could play soccer. Both of the goals we scored were amazing goals, what great buildup. We created some other great chances through great buildup and so I’m very proud of them for being very physical and also being able to play soccer,” Ohio head coach Aaron Rodgers said.
The Chippewas committed 11 fouls to the Bobcats’ five. Both schools got off 10 shots but Junior Goalkeeper, Sydney Malham recorded five incredible saves in some tough spots, making a monster difference in the outcome of this win for the Bobcats.
Ohio now focuses on Sunday’s matchup with Eastern Michigan. First touch is set for 1 p.m. from Chessa Field.