Field hockey team, go watch them

by Eric Pfahler
Staff Writer

I am a sports writer for The Post. Like any other sports writer, I am required to write what I see. What I see now is an inspired team destined for a Mid-American Conference championship.

No, it's not the Ohio football team, although I do believe the Bobcats are much better than their 0-3 record. It's Ohio's field hockey team, the team with an 8-1 record and the No.14 ranking in the country. The Bobcats have defeated three top-25 teams. Yes, there are more than 25 college field hockey teams in the nation.

Of course, I probably would not have realized the team's accomplishments if I did not cover the team. I do not assume you already know about the Bobcats, but you should.

I merely was paying my dues in the reporting industry after being assigned to cover the field hockey team, but now I am covering the best team on campus. The sport might not draw thousands of people to the stands, but field hockey is every bit as thrilling and breath-taking as any other sport.

The games are fast-paced with lots of action, featuring time-freezing saves and players willing to block a hard plastic ball with their unprotected legs, arms and sometimes faces.

The Bobcats' only loss came in a 3-2 overtime heartbreaker to No. 12 Virginia. Ohio led the game with less than a minute left in regulation but could not secure the victory.

After that game, the Bobcats rolled over five straight opponents, including No. 12 Kent State, which has dominated the MAC for the past three seasons. The team also crushed No. 16 Iowa 4-0 in a game that made the Hawkeyes look like the Washington Generals trying to compete with the Harlem Globetrotters.

Ohio then shutout Miami and No. 7 Louisville in crucial MAC road wins. That's right– Louisville is in the MAC in field hockey.

Every winning team, though, needs a skipper with flair. Ohio coach Shelly Morris provides that and much more for the Ohio faithful. Morris, who is in her third season, screams, cheers and encourages from the sideline.

She is sitting during games with the same frequency as Purdue basketball coach Gene Keady cracking a smile.

The Bobcats, however, do not have one particular heroine on their roster. From top to bottom, shortest to tallest, each individual player is contributing to the fairy-tale season.

Ohio has had eight players score goals this season, and each player has helped goalkeeper Tara Elliott limit opposing teams to only seven goals in nine contests.

And if that's not enough for a good story, then maybe Ohio's domination against Miami should be enough to get an Ohio sports fan's blood pumping.

The Bobcats face Central Michigan Friday at 3 p.m. and Ball State Saturday at 1 p.m. Both games are at Pruitt Field.

If you are interested in sports, you should at least give the team one shot to win your heart.

–Pfahler is a sophomore journalism major. Send him an e-mail at post_sports@hotmail.com