Sports
Ohio field hockey’s season ends with 6-1 loss to Miami
By: Darayus Sethna
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OXFORD, Ohio (WOUB) — Ohio Field Hockey’s first postseason game of 2024 saw the team face its arch-rival, the Miami RedHawks, in the quarterfinals of the Mid-American Conference Tournament.
The playoff contest marked the Bobcats’ second visit to Oxford during the 2024 season. Head Coach Ali Johnstone and her squad sought revenge this time around after suffering a 5-1 defeat in their first match on Oct. 6.
Ohio couldn’t reverse its fortunes and fell 6-1 in the tournament bout.
Things didn’t go to plan at the start. A pair of goals from Claudia Negrete Garcia, Miami’s long-time star, dug Ohio into an early 0-2 hole.
The RedHawks spent the majority of the first half on the Bobcats’ side of the field – constantly pressuring the green and white’s backline and goalkeeper Macy Lotze.
Miami finished the first half with 10 total shots (five on target) compared to just one for Ohio.
Sophomore Lucia Ventos added to Miami’s lead five minutes into the second half by slipping the ball past Lotze. An official review confirmed the ball had crossed the goal line and the RedHawks secured a comfortable 3-0 lead.
Ohio’s defense continued to stay on its toes. In total, Lotze and the Bobcat faced 22 shots for the game and conceded 11 corners.
The RedHawks once again found themselves in Ohio territory during the closing moments of the third quarter. Their attack ended with Paula Peña Martinez finding the back of the net. At the end of three quarters, the hosts had built a 4-0 advantage.
Most of the Bobcats’ limited opportunities to attack came off fast break plays, with forward Sasha Dikotla attacking down the sideline.
Her efforts eventually paid off at the beginning of the final quarter. After getting the ball down in Miami territory, the junior used a reverse spin move to get Redhawks goalkeeper Nicky Sjouken off balance and slot the ball home.
Dikotla broke the tie with Anouk Plaehn to become the Bobcats’ leading scorer on the season with six total goals. But it was just one step on the mountain Ohio had to climb.
Miami’s final penalty corner of the game concluded with Martinez launching a long-range shot that flew past the entire Bobcat defense and slammed into the back of the net.
Just like that, the RedHawks reclaimed its four-goal lead with a 5-1 score.
Martinez notched a hat trick with just over two minutes left with a shot across her body that deflected off the crossbar, effectively ending the game with a 6-1 final score.
The Bobcats’ season officially comes to an end. Ali Johnstone completed her seventh season as head coach and the team finished with a 7-10 regular season record. Their 3-5 finish against conference opponents earned them the sixth seed in the MAC.
Miami takes on Appalachian State in the semifinals tomorrow afternoon.