Sports
Ohio Soccer Continues Conference Play Success
By: Noah Wolf
Posted on:
The Ohio Bobcats continued their hot start in conference play with a shutout victory, 3-0, over Central Michigan.
The first half was a back-and-forth affair with many chances for both sides. Central Michigan had two early on, the first one coming just five minutes into the game. Madison Costner dribbled her way past a few Bobcat defenders to find herself on the very left edge of the penalty area, where she made a low pass to the Chippewas’ all-time scoring leader, Lexi Pelafas. Pelafas drilled a low shot at goal, but Ohio goalkeeper Sydney Malham came up with a confident save. Two minutes later, the Chippewas’ Savannah Beecher sent in a looping cross from a corner kick, headed for the back post. A clean header was sent towards goal, but again Malham came up with a save to keep the game scoreless.
Ohio’s breakthrough came nine minutes into the game. Central Michigan was passing the ball around in their own territory, and senior striker Allie Curry came up with an interception on the edge of the penalty area. She passed the ball forward to fellow senior Hannah Jaggers, who took one touch to set herself up on the right side of the penalty area. Her shot was a beautiful curling ball across the goal and landing on the inside netting, just inside the post, giving Chippewa goalkeeper Zoie Reed no chance to save it.
The Chippewas would have another great opportunity to score when Madison Costner found the ball at her feet inside the penalty area with only the goalkeeper to beat, but Malham would not be beaten today making a great save on the powerful shot, one of her seven saves on the day. Ohio would have another good opportunity before the end of the half as well. Sarina Dirrig was on the receiving end of a great ball on the right side of the penalty area, and after a few dribbles, she put a low shot to the left side of the goal. Reed came up with a great save, diving to her right and pushing the ball wide of goal with an outstretched arm.
In the second half, things were less fast-paced and back and forth, but there were still plenty of goal-scoring chances. Four minutes into the half, a bouncing ball was fought for by both Jaggers and Reed on the edge of the 18-yard box. Reed slid into the legs of Jaggers and Jaggers went to ground. Referee Jamie Duling pointed to the spot and gave a yellow card to Reed. Curry stepped up to take the penalty kick for Ohio, and she powerfully placed the ball in the top left corner for a 2-0 Bobcats advantage.
The third and final goal for the Bobcats came in the 70th minute when Courtney Daugerdas worked her way around the Central Michigan back line and had only the goalkeeper Reed to beat. Reed came away from the byline towards Daugerdas, and Daugerdas unselfishly pushed the ball across the face of goal where Sara Kattainen was waiting for the tap-in, her first goal of the season for the Bobcats.
The Bobcats (5-5-0, 2-0-0) travel to Muncie, Illinois to take on Ball State next Friday, and the Chippewas (5-4-1, 0-2-0) head home to Mount Pleasant, Michigan for a Friday matchup with the Akron Zips.