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[Maddie Kiefer | WOUB]

Ohio Soccer falls to Toledo 1-0, notches just second loss of 2024

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ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) — The Ohio Bobcats (9-2-4, 4-1-3 MAC) entered Thursday’s match against Toledo tied atop the MAC standings with Western Michigan. With just four more games to go, the time is now to start stacking wins to earn the MAC regular season crown and earn the right to host the MAC Semifinals and MAC Championship. Thursday’s match was a setback, though, as the Bobcats fell to the Rockets, 1-0.

The game’s lone goal was very sudden—a Toledo counterattack moved quickly as Ohio’s star goalkeeper Celeste Sloma came out of goal and slightly misread it. One small mistake defined a game the Bobcats controlled. “We weren’t able to break through and we gave up a goal, which is slightly uncharacteristic for us,” Head Coach Aaron Rodgers said. “But defensively, we’ve been fantastic all season. Sometimes, a blip happens, but I think we know we still have a lot to play for.”

There’s still a lot to play for indeed—three more games, with one against fellow MAC title contender Buffalo, await the Bobcats. In order to rebound, Ohio will need to embrace its struggles and learn from them. “You can’t learn and grow unless you face struggles,” Rodgers said. “I’m not going to yell at (the team) and tell them we sucked, because at the end of the day, we did a lot of good things.”

Ohio Soccer players celebrate after a goal vs Oakland on Sept. 15. [ HG Biggs | WOUB Public Media ]
Despite the goal, Ohio’s defense played one of its best games of the season. Junior center back Norah Roush has been this team’s unsung hero this season. The Miami of Ohio transfer has provided much-needed energy on the back line and continued to swarm the ball in Toledo’s attacking third. Roush has played all 90 minutes in eight-straight games dating back to September.

On a day that Ohio’s offense couldn’t find the back of the net, sophomore forward Anna Burchett provided a sorely-needed spark on offense and played perhaps her best game of the season, despite not scoring. “(Burchett) has really come along this season. Her intensity and her strength has been awesome and I’m really proud of the progress she’s made,” Rodgers said.

The Bobcats will get a break over the weekend and will return to action at Buffalo on Oct. 24 at 6 p.m.