Oct. 12, 2005

ATHENS, Ohio -

With a grip on first place through the first half of Mid-American Conference play, the Ohio field hockey team will jump into the second half this weekend with home dates against Ball State and Miami.

Despite suffering their first league loss of the season Sunday, the Bobcats sit atop the MAC standings with five conference games remaining on the schedule. Ohio will play host to Ball State and Miami this weekend, a pair of teams the Bobcats knocked off on consecutive days earlier in the season.

Ohio was the only team to receive votes in the latest STX/NFHCA National Coaches Poll and will look to continue its winning ways this weekend. The Bobcats have won five of their last seven, with the lone losses coming against No. 9 Ohio State and in overtime against Kent State.

The Bobcats continue a five-game home stand this week. The stretch began last week with a 4-2 victory over Central Michigan at Peggy Pruitt Field, marking first-year head coach Neil Macmillan's first victory in Athens. Torrie Albini (Escondido, Calif.) scored twice and Chelsea Mearig (Lititz, Pa.) provided a pair of assists to lead the Ohio offense.

A day later, Ohio fell to Kent State in overtime. Rachelle Coetzee (Bloemfontein, South Africa) notched a second half goal to tie the score at one and Albini slapped her eighth goal of the season with 61 seconds on the clock to push the game into overtime. A Golden Flash tally at 4:52 into the extra period, however, handed the Bobcats their first loss in league play.

Albini is tied for the league lead in goals, while teammate Estienne Coetzee (Bloemfontein, South Africa) is tied for second with seven.

Ohio welcomes a pair of conference foes to Pruitt Field this weekend. The Bobcats will meet Ball State Friday at 3 p.m. and Miami Saturday at 1 p.m.