Sports
Ohio Field Hockey gets second-straight win over Ball State
By: Austin Yau
Posted on:
ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) — Ohio Field Hockey (4-9, 2-3 MAC) hosted the Ball State Cardinals (3-11, 1-4 MAC) on Friday for their Pink Out game recognizing breast cancer awareness month. The Bobcats shut down the Cardinals’ offense and Tiana Nhamoinesu would score her first goal of the season to help the Bobcats win 1-0.
The first quarter was evenly matched as the teams defenses’ both had strong showings allowing the other team to only get two shots each. Ball State would get a corner midway through the quarter but Ohio’s goalkeeper Ash Stephenson would save the shot from Emma van Hal.
Defense remained the theme in the second quarter as the teams were both only able to get one shot off on the other. Ohio got a corner but Marie De Grande’s shot would be deflected by a Cardinal defender.
Ohio started the third quarter off quick with a goal in the first 13 seconds. Nhamoinesu took the ball on a breakaway and get the goal to make it 1-0 for the Bobcats. Ball State tried to respond, getting three shots but ultimately did not score.
The Bobcats would defend their lead well during the fourth quarter. Despite many breakaways and good looks, the Cardinals were unable to get a shot off. This performance meant the Bobcats would hold on to the shutout and win 1-0 at home.
Sophomore back Deborah James reflected on the team’s defensive performance.
“Being able to keep them outside of the defense…if you draw a foul it’s outside the defense [so] there’s no short corners…it’s the aim of protecting the goalkeeper,” James said.
The Bobcats will play Kent State on the road (2-8, 1-3 MAC) on Oct. 17.