Sports
Ohio Soccer dominates Mercyhurst on senior night
By: Kasey Hill
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Ohio Soccer (2-1) invited Mercyhurst University (1-4) to Chessa Field, where the weather was just as unforgiving as the Bobcats, who dominated, winning 6-0. The feels-like temperature in Athens reached 96 degrees and obviously impacted the players. Hydration breaks were honored, and cards were thrown in this literally heated matchup.
Senior celebrations began before kickoff, honoring #5 Kate Robinson; #7 Jaimason Brooker; #9 Anna Burchett; #1 Anna Burchett; #15 Rylee Mensel; and #30 Melia Peer. Head Coach Aaron Rodgers talked about these seniors’ freshman year, when Ohio won the MAC Championship in 2023, and how that contributed to their strength and leadership. “They are just wonderful people…” he said.
Ohio was never lacking opportunities to score, even right after kickoff. Senior Jaimason Brooker was the first to shoot in the 5th minute. It was Ella Deevers with the first Bobcat goal in the 7th minute, capitalizing on a cross from the right wing. After the initial goal, the Bobcats ran into trouble switching the field. Their only goal scorer sat alone and open on the right flank while the ball worked up the left. Coach Rodgers urged his team to switch the field, which then resulted in true freshman Camile Francis to score off the bench with 18 minutes remaining in the half.
In the backfield, freshman Lauren Hoog played just as well and as aggressively as her two upperclassmen teammates on her left. She and Deevers worked effortlessly together on the right side, creating chances and stretching the midfield.
The first half ended with a bang. #11 Lillian Weller capitalized on one of the Bobcats’ many corner kick opportunities with her head. The stands were electric. Ohio walked off the first half, winning 3-0.
The Bobcats were only rattled once, when an awkward interaction under sophomore goalkeeper Bella Wyatt’s feet luckily ended in an offside call, but almost ended Ohio’s hopes for a sweep. After recollecting the team, Anna Burchett gets a huge opportunity for her own goal on senior night, taking a PK in the 54th minute, but it smacks the right post and is cleared by Mercyhurst. Cleared poorly, though, because Melia Peer shows off her foot skills inside the 18-yard box and scores only a minute later.
Brooker and Kiley Bruce each add another goal to the score in the 27th and 5th minute respectfully. But Mercyhurst wasn’t allowing the Bobcats to walk off the win easily. Two yellow cards were issued in the final minute.
Despite the confrontation, Ohio beat Mercyhurst 6-0. Their next game is also at home, on Thursday, September 3rd, against the Pittsburgh Panthers. Mercyhurst also plays on the 3rd against Morehead State at 11 AM.