Sept. 19, 2007

ATHENS, Ohio - The 11th-ranked Ohio field hockey team will kick off conference play this weekend against Ball State in Muncie, Ind. Saturday at 1 p.m. The Bobcats then travel to Oxford, Ohio Sunday to play Miami at 1 p.m.

Series Information
Ohio vs. Ball State - Ball State leads the series 33-22
Ohio vs. Miami - Miami leads the series 28-18

A Look At The `Cats
The Ohio Bobcats (5-3) are ranked 11th in the latest STX/NFHCA Division I Coaches Poll that was released Sept. 18. It is the third straight week that the `Cats have been nationally ranked.

In the NCAA's statistical rankings, Ohio is sixth in the nation with an 8.63 per game average in penalty corners and eighth in the nation with a 0.38 average in shutouts per game. The NCAA ranks the top 50 teams in the nation and Ohio made this week's list in all categories. The Bobcats also lead the MAC in goals, shots, penalty corners and shutouts.

Ohio has swept the MAC's player of the week awards three times this season. Torrie Albini (Escondido, Calif.) and Jessie Martin (Louisville, Ky.) have teamed up to win the offensive and defensive awards two times. Martin and Marcy Dull (Ephrata, Pa.) also combined for a MAC sweep on Sept. 18.

Scouting Ball State
In the MAC's preseason poll, Ball State (2-6) was predicted to finish second in the conference. The Cardinals opened their MAC schedule last weekend with a home loss to Miami.

Ball State has scored ten goals this season, including four each from Brooke Macgillivary and Casey Hunsicker. Tiffany Shifflett has been the `Cards only goalie this year and has played 567:47 minutes. She has made 85 saves and has two wins.

Scouting Miami
Miami (3-4) was predicted to finish fifth in the conference, according to the MAC Preseason Coaches Poll. The RedHawks opened MAC play last weekend with a 2-1 win at Ball State. Danielle Gaynor has scored a team-high three goals for Miami this season while six other players have scored two goals each. Goalie Meghan Kramer has started six of seven games this year. Kramer has a 3-4 record, which includes a 6-0 shutout win over Longwood.

Go Torrie Go
Senior Torrie Albini has been one of Ohio's biggest contributors this season. Albini leads the team with seven goals and 36 shots. Other season accomplishments for Albini include:
- Being named the MAC Offensive Player of the Week two times
- Being top-20 in the nation in two categories (points per game and goals per game)
- Leading the MAC in shots and goals; including being second in assists
- Making the Bobcat record book in career goals, career points and career shots
- Scoring a career-high four goals in Ohio's home opener vs. Robert Morris (9/4)

J For Jessie
Ohio goalkeeper Jessie Martin leads the Mid-American Conference in shutout performances. Martin is also ranked in three statistical categories on the national level. She has a 5-3 overall record and has started every game for Ohio. Her season totals include 36 saves and 573:04 minutes played.

Anything But Dull
Sophomore Marcy Dull earned the first MAC Offensive Player of the Week award of her career this week after posting back-to-back goals against Indiana and No. 5 Wake Forest last weekend.

Dull's last-minute goal on Friday gave Ohio an 1-0 shutout victory over Indiana. She then pulled out a goal against Wake Forest on Saturday.

Head Coach Neil Macmillan said, "Marcy demonstrated her versatility this weekend with two very different goals. A game-winner off a short corner with 1:51 left against the 21st-ranked team in the country showed her clutch finishing ability. Against the No. 5 Demon Deacons she dribbled nearly 30 yards through a couple of defenders before showing great poise to bury ball."