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[Donovan Varney | WOUB]

Ohio fails to find the back of the net in 0-0 draw against Northern Kentucky

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ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) – The Ohio Bobcats (2-1-2) generated 13 shots on goal, but could not convert in a 0-0 draw against the Northern Kentucky Norse (1-1-3). 

Ohio head coach Aaron Rodgers hugs senior Shae Robertson (18) at senior day for Ohio soccer
Ohio head coach Aaron Rodgers hugs senior Shae Robertson (18) at senior day for Ohio soccer [Lucy Schaefer | WOUB]
It was Senior Day for the Bobcats who honored six seniors before kickoff.

“Phenomenal group, these are the seniors who came in during Covid,” head coach Aaron Rodgers said. “They have been through a lot. The impact and legacy that they will leave in the program is immense.”

Once the play on the field began, the Bobcats dominated all phases of the match. They were relentless in their pursuit of a goal, finding open passing lanes and applying pressure. Ohio tallied 10 shots on goal in the first half compared to the Norse’s zero. However, it was unsuccessful in finding the back of the net.

“We played really well,” Rodgers said. “We dominated possession, we dominated chances, we just have to figure it out, figure out how to put the ball away.”

That trend continued in the second half, Ohio continued to generate quality looks at the goal but were unable to put points on the scoreboard.

A point of the match that might be easily lost in the fireworks on offense was the performance turned in by the defense.

Sophomore keeper Celeste Sloma and the back line for the Bobcats turned in their third clean sheet of the season. That unit has only allowed two goals in their first five matches.  

Ohio midfielder Carsyn Prigge (24) fights for the loose ball in Ohio's match against Northern Kentucky
Ohio midfielder Carsyn Prigge (24) fights for the loose ball in Ohio’s match against Northern Kentucky [Lucy Shaefer | WOUB]
“What we wanted to do from the 2022 season into this season was to try and sure up the defense a little bit,” Rodgers said. “So far we are doing that so we just got to figure out how to score for ourselves and I think we will win a lot of games.”

It was a frustrating draw for the Bobcats, but the hope for this season is not lost. They have two big nonconference matches before MAC play against the Ohio State Buckeyes and the James Madison Dukes. 

“Both are really good teams,” Rodgers said. “It’s going to be great competition, a great competitive test for us, and I think we will do well. … We want to put ourselves in a really difficult competitive situation in nonconference so when we get into the MAC, the MAC is extremely competitive and we want to be prepared for that.”

The first of the two tests comes Sept. 7 against the Ohio State Buckeyes.