Bobcats struggle, lose to Ohio State

by Eric Pfahler
Staff Writer

    COLUMBUS– When a baker leaves an ingredient out of a cake, it does not taste right. The Bobcats know the feeling.

The No. 11 Ohio field hockey team almost rallied from behind, but eventually fell  to the No. 10 Ohio State Buckeyes 3-2 yesterday.   

The Bobcats (8-2) trailed 3-1 midway through the second half. Ohio trimmed the lead on a score with 10 minutes left, but the team could not get the ball past Ohio State goalkeeper Allison Blanton again.

    Ohio midfielder Ali Johnstone said lack of teamwork led to the Bobcats' first loss in six games.

    "We didn't play all together," Johnstone said. "At times we tried to do it by ourselves. We didn't seem like our usual selves."

     Ohio dropped only its second game of the season, and the Buckeyes (8-1) increased their winning streak to four.

    The Bobcats opened the scoring in the first half when midfielder Andrea Voros scored a goal on a penalty corner.

    Ohio, however, struggled to maintain possession, and the Buckeyes forced several turnovers.

    Ohio State turned the game around late in the first half by netting two goals in less than seven minutes. The first goal, scored by defender McKenzie Hufford, came with 6:30 left in the first half. Midfielder Jenee Doto put the Buckeyes on top with a score in the closing minutes.

    The Bobcats began to mount pressure near the end of the half, but their effort proved futile.

    Ohio State did an excellent job of preventing Ohio's running attack inside its penalty circle.

    The Buckeyes came out fired up after the half and put another mark on the scoreboard when midfielder Lucy Clayton slapped a shot off a penalty corner past the diving pads of Ohio goalkeeper Tara Elliott.

     Ohio State continued to keep the ball out of the Bobcats' control. The Buckeyes used concise, conservative passes to limit Ohio's opportunities.

    The Bobcats, revived by a timeout with 25 minutes left in the game, started the comeback. Ohio capitalized on a penalty corner when Johnstone crushed a slapshot past Blanton.

    The Bobcats continued to keep the play on the Ohio State side of the field but could not break through and knot the game.

    Ohio midfielder Lauren Mazziotto said the team did not play up to its potential in the loss.

     "I think we definitely could have played a lot better," Mazziotto said. "We hung our heads a little bit. We just weren't smart with the ball."

    Ohio coach Shelly Morris said she was disappointed in the way her team played.

    "I'm just a little disappointed because I don't think that we played like we can," Morris said.

     Ohio must regroup this weekend when the team faces Central Michigan Friday at 3 p.m. at Pruitt Field.