Oct. 24, 2007

ATHENS, Ohio - After finishing last weekend with two wins and a 14-4, 8-1 MAC record, the No. 15 Ohio field hockey team captured its second straight Mid-American Conference championship. It is the first time ever that a Bobcat field hockey squad has won back-to-back conference titles.

Ohio's MAC championship does not guarantee postseason play in the NCAA Tournament. The winner of the MAC Tournament will play in the NCAA play-in game for a berth into the NCAA Tourney.

The Bobcats will play their last game of the 2007 regular season on Friday against Central Michigan in Mt. Pleasant, Mich. at 3 p.m.

Tourney Time
The 2007 MAC Field Hockey Tournament will be held Nov. 1-3 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Live stats will be available at muredhawks.com.

The Bobcats were crowned MAC Tournament Champions last year aftering earning a No. 1 seed and capturing the 2006 MAC Championship for the first time in five years.

In the Polls
Ohio enters its eighth week in the STX/NFHCA Division I National Coaches Poll. This week the Bobcats remain at No. 15 for the third straight week.

Week 8 - No. 15 (Oct. 23)
Week 7 - No. 15 (Oct. 16)
Week 6 - No. 15 (Oct. 9)
Week 5 - No. 11 (Oct. 2)
Week 4 - No. 11 (Sept. 25)
Week 3 - No. 11 (Sept. 18)
Week 2 - No. 12 (Sept. 11)
Week 1 - No. 10 (Sept. 4)

Leader of the Pack
The Bobcats lead the MAC in 13 of 16 statistical categories, including shutouts, shots, shots per game, goals, and penalty corners.

W's
The Bobcats' 14 wins this season is the most wins any Bobcat field hockey club has had in five years and ties for third place in the Ohio record book for most wins in a single-season.

Keepers of the House
Last weekend, Ohio closed out its regular season home slate with a flawless 6-0 record, marking an eight-game home winning streak that dates back to Nov. 3 of last year.

Hey Now She's an All-Star
Ohio field hockey player Torrie Albini has been selected to represent Ohio in the 2007 NFHCA Division I Senior All-Star Game, announced by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association.

Albini was selected as one of the nation's premier seniors and will compete in the All-Star Game on Sunday, Nov. 17, in College Park, Md. She becomes the 11th player in Ohio history to earn a spot on the All-Star team. Most recently, Lindsay Rothenberger was picked to compete during the 2005 campaign.

Albini is one of two players from the Mid-American Conference selected to compete in the game. Kent State's Charlotte Muller will join Albini and 36 other Division I field hockey players in the All-Star Game. Continually recognized as one of the conference's best all-around players, Albini has been stable in the Ohio lineup since her arrival in Athens. She has appeared in 80 of Ohio's games over the last four seasons and is second on Ohio's all-time career list for goals. Albini is a two-time All-MAC First Team selection and has led the MAC in goals for two seasons. As a junior, she was selected to the All-West Region Second Team by the NFHCA and was named to the 2006 MAC All-Tournament Team. She has been selected the MAC Offensive Player of the Week four times in her career and is ranked top-50 in the nation this season with 1.39 points per game and 0.89 goals per game.

Anything but Dull
Ohio field hockey player Marcy Dull was selected to this week's womensfieldhockey.com honor roll list. Dull increased her season total to eight goals last weekend as she helped lead the 15th-ranked Bobcats to a 5-3 win over Kent State on Friday. Dull only had two shots in the game that resulted in her two goals. She also had one assist.

A First Time for Everything
Senior Katherine Claeys made the first start of her career in goal for Ohio against Missouri State on Senior Day. Claeys made a career-high three saves in her first shutout win ever.

Scouting Central Michigan
The Central Michigan Chippewas are fourth in the MAC with a 5-11, 4-4 MAC record. The Chippewas will host Ohio and Kent State on Friday and Saturday, respectively, to close out the regular season. The Chippewas have lost their last four games, including a 3-2 loss to No. 4 Michigan in overtime on Oct. 17.

Junior Samantha Sandham is the MAC's leader with 10 assists. She also leads the team with 20 points and has scored five goals. Kelly Jordan and Moyra Betuzzi share a team-high six goals, while Kim Erasmus has scored four goals.

2007 MAC Players of the Week
Offensive
Torrie Albini - Aug. 28
Torrie Albini - Sept. 11
Marcy Dull - Sept. 18

Defensive
Jessie Martin - Aug. 28
Nikki Gnozzio - Sept. 4
Jessie Martin - Sept. 11
Jessie Martin - Sept. 18
Jessie Martin - Sept. 25
Jessie Martin - Oct. 9
Nina Bruno - Oct. 16