May 16, 2009

ATHENS, Ohio - Despite dreary conditions, around 25 field hockey alumni returned to Athens this weekend for the annual game between the Ohio field hockey team and its alumni, which the current Bobcats won 3-2 Saturday morning at Pruitt Field.

A larger than normal alumni turnout allowed the former Bobcats to stay fresh, giving the current Bobcats a challenging game. Rising senior Katelyn Shelley (Ephrata, Pa.), rising junior Katherine Ballard (Charlottesville, Pa.) and rising junior Brittany Zorn (Millersville, Md.) tallied goals for Ohio, with Zorn's serving as the game-winner, breaking a 2-2 tie with less than five minutes to play.

"Any competition in the spring is extremely valuable," Ohio head coach Neil Macmillan said. "We only get a limited number of days (to practice in the spring), so to use them for competition that will prepare us for the fall is critical. The game is a great help and also a lot of fun. "

The alumni team was led by new Ohio assistant coach Ali Johnstone, who played for the 'Cats from 1998-2001, and also included Torrie Albini (2004-2007), who served as a student assistant coach this past year. All five graduating seniors from the 2008 squad (Estienne Coetzee, Rachelle Coetzee, Nikki Gnozzio, Jessie Martin and Lauren Stahlhuth) also competed for the alumni squad.

"It's good to have Ali out there and people like Torrie, who have been helping the program," Macmillan said. "And to have all of this year's graduates coming right back out and being a part of the game, that's great. Hopefully they can be a part of this tradition as we go forward."

Following the alumni game, the current Bobcats and alumni enjoyed a lunch and reflected on past memories. The Bobcats will hold their annual end of the year banquet Saturday night.

"It's great to see the number of alumni coming back and I'm really pleased with the turnout," Macmillan said. "The alumni want to come back to see where we are now, but also having Ali Johnstone as a coach now, a lot of her friends and former teammates want to come back and see her and this weekend gives them a good reason to return."

The Bobcats open their 2009 slate August 28 against defending national champion Maryland in Evanston, Ill.