Soccer loss adds performance pressure

by Rashad Daoudi
For The Post

On any given day, missed opportunities and bad luck easily can lead to the better team losing. Yesterday's soccer match between the Ohio Bobcats (8-7 overall; 7-2 MAC) and the Wright State Raiders (8-6; 3-2) was the epitome of this statement.

The Bobcats lost 3-0 despite owning the first half, out-hustling and out-shooting the Raiders. A number of corner kicks and open shots, however, never amounted to an Ohio goal.

Not taking advantage of first-half chances left the Bobcats vulnerable in the second half, Ohio coach Stacy Strauss said.

"If we scored in the first half it would have been the game," she said. "The worst thing you can do is let a team you should beat stay in the game."

This is exactly what the Raiders did by taking advantage of shaky Ohio defense in the second half. A ball overrun by Ohio goalkeeper Vanessa Dennis allowed Raider's forward Kristen Blackwell to put the bulge in the old onion bag during the 28^th minute.

In the 23^rd minute, Raiders forward Kim Chianese made it 2-0, signaling more bad luck for Ohio. Dennis, in an attempt to cut off the near post, saw the ball shoot behind her. It rolled along the goal line and eventually sneaked in at the far post.

Forward Rachel Najjar said the two goals took away the Bobcats' emotion.

"It put us down because the two goals were unlucky on our part," she said. "And what made it worse was that we had better chances in the first half and couldn't find the back of the net."

The game might be the Bobcats' last home game of the season, but Ohio has a chance to play a MAC tournament game at home if the team wins its next two conference games. Either way, defender Jen Wright said she is sad the team could not win its last regular season home game for the seniors.

"In respect to them, we really wanted to give them this victory," she said. "The seniors play a huge role on this team and we won't be the same next year without them."

The Bobacts finish the regular season with four road games beginning Friday with MAC foe Northern Illinois (3-10-1 overall; 3-7 MAC). Coach Strauss said she believes the team is fully prepared.

"We expect to pick up in conference play where we left off," she said. "We have a strong MAC record and we expect it to get better."

Wright said she also feels good about the Bobcats chances in the upcoming road games.

"We feel confident on the road," she said. "We need to win the next four games, we know that, and we will step up."

Ohio and Northern Illinois face off Friday at 12:30 p.m. in Dekalb, Ill.