Sports
Ohio Soccer draws with Akron in senior day battle
By: Joshua Jacob
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ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) — With 10 seniors on the Ohio Bobcats roster, senior day at Chessa Field was a time to celebrate. Eight of the starters were seniors, and the presence of the senior class is undeniable. Head Coach Arron Rodgers talked about how influential the senior class is.
“They were able to integrate quite easily, just their work ethic, team-first mentality, intensity, conscientiousness for the group for their studies, and the community. They’re such well-rounded people, and they have definitely made a great mark on this program.”
The Akron Zips (3-3-2) traveled to Athens to take on the Ohio Bobcats (3-4-3). Both sides knew it would be a physical game, Akron trying to prove themselves in the MAC, and Ohio looking to defend their home field for senior night. In the end, Ohio was unable to hold a 1-0 lead and the game ended in a 1-1 draw.
As the game started, Ohio made an early mistake, as Sarah Helphinstine received a yellow card for unsportsmanlike conduct. However, this didn’t shake up the Bobcats, who looked to stay aggressive.
Scout Murray had the first attempt on goal of the game. She was able to use her speed to slice through the defense, but some quick hands from Ariana Vakos kept the Bobcats scoreless.
The game evened out as both defenses did a great job keeping the ball out of scoring positions. This changed when Emma King slipped past the Ohio defenders with a one-on-one attempt against Celeste Sloma. Sloma got a hand on the ball, making it just enough for the ball to be clear right of the goal.
The defense continued to be disruptive as Murray stole the ball from the Zips, but a fast Akron defense closed in quickly. She still had time to dish it to Kate Robinson, who tried to fit it through a window, but Vakos closed out on the ball and made a great save.
At the beginning of the second half, the Bobcats came out fast, with Anna Burchett finding the game’s first goal off an excellent pass from Murray. This kept with the team’s second-half mentality that they have displayed in past games.
However, the Zips didn’t take long to respond with Addison Hall, rifling one past Sloma. To make the game 1-1.
After Akron scored, both teams struggled to get another goal. Both teams made several attempts on goal, but nothing connected.
The game ended as a draw, Ohio’s third of the year.
Ohio will take a trip to Western Michigan to take on the defending MAC champion Broncos on Sep. 25.
Akron will take their momentum to take on Northern Illinois on Sep. 25.