Sports
Norah Roush named MAC Defensive Player of the Year, four other Ohio players make All-MAC teams
By: Andrew Bowlby
Posted on:
ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) – Just two days before Ohio will play in the Mid-American Conference Tournament semifinal against Buffalo, defender Norah Roush won the conference’s Defensive Player of the Year award.
The Bobcats also had four other players that made All-MAC Teams. Roush, Jaimason Brooker and Eve Berish were all named to the All-MAC First Team. Maia Kaufman and Celeste Sloma were both All-MAC Second Team selections.
Roush started in every game this season for Ohio and is the first player in program history to win the award.
She is the leader on an Ohio defensive line that allowed only 12 goals all seasons, the second-best total in the MAC. 12 is also currently a program-record for goals allowed in a single season pending what happens in Ohio’s remaining schedule.
In addition to the Defensive Player of the Year title, Roush was selected to the All-MAC First Team along with teammates Jaimason Brooker and Eve Berish.
Brooker was Ohio’s most significant offensive contributor this season with seven goals, six assists and 20 points. Brooker also had two multi-goal games in the month of October against Ball State and Central Michigan. Her point total not only leads the Bobcats but is also top 10 in the conference.
Berish makes the All-MAC First Team as one of Ohio’s crucial midfielders. Berish scored two goals this season, both game-winning, against Marshall and Oakland. She played the fourth most minutes on the teams this season.
The All-MAC Second Team has three Ohio players on it. First with Ohio’s star keeper Celeste Sloma.
Sloma proved all season she was one of the conference’s top keepers. In 19 games this year, Sloma allowed just 11 goals (0.59 goals against per game average). She also recorded 10 shutouts this season, both numbers ranked second in MAC to the conferences First Team keeper Lexie Thompson (Buffalo).
Maia Kaufman was named to the All-MAC Second Team as well. Kaufman has also been a part of Ohio’s dominant defensive line this season. She also chipped in a goal and an assist this season in games against Northern Kentucky and Bowling Green.
Ohio will face Buffalo in the second round of the MAC Tournament on Thursday at 11 a.m. in Kalamazoo, Michigan.