Sports
Field Hockey Sweeps Weekly MAC Awards
By: Grant Burkhardt
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Tuesday was a huge day for Ohio field hockey, as a team and individually.
After the team – undefeated at 5-0 – got 59 points in the newest NCAA coaches poll to become the 27th ranked in the nation, two Lady Bobcats helped Ohio sweep the weekly Mid-American Conference awards.
After a week's worth of stellar defensive play (and, against Ohio State, her second goal of the season), Louzeth Schutte was named MAC Defensive Player of the Week. Ohio's defense has been outstanding, recording three shutouts and holding previously sixth-ranked Ohio State to two shots in an entire game.
"I think it's just all-around defense," head coach Neil Macmillan said. "The team has worked really hard to work on recovering and getting a good press on the other team. The best thing for Jen (McGill) is if we don't have any shots against her.
"We denied them going forward…we came up with a lot of interceptions and were able to go from there."
Cathryn Altdoerffer completed the sweep of the weekly awards by taking the Offensive Player of the Week honor in the second week of the season. The junior scored three times on Ohio's road trip to Philadelphia, twice in a 7-2 rout of St. Joseph's and once against Temple in a 2-0 Ohio win.
"The best defense is a good offense," Altdoerffer said. "Being able to keep it away from [our goaltender] is the best success, because if she doesn't have to touch the ball then that means you're doing really well."
Ohio goes back on the road this weekend to play American University and Robert Morris University before returning home to Pruitt Field to face Indiana September 18.
Twitter: @BobcatShowcase