Oct. 18, 2009

Box Score

ATHENS, Ohio - A Miami goal early in the 108th minute spoiled Ohio soccer's senior day as the RedHawks squeaked past Ohio 1-0 in double overtime Sunday afternoon at Chessa Field.

Regulation was not enough to decide this battle between the two rivals. Both squads battled back and forth through 90 minutes and nearly two overtime periods before the RedHawks' Sara Lund knocked a header just out of the reach of Ohio's keeper off a free kick to end things.

"I thought the effort was there today," Ohio coach Stacy Strauss said. "Give Miami some credit. They have some great individual players. You let them in the game that long and they're going to make you pay. That's what happened."

The `Cats (7-6-2, 4-2-2 MAC) had the advantage in shots, outshooting Miami (8-6-1, 4-3-1 MAC) 12-11 on the day. Sophomore Sara Seitz (Englewood, Ohio) and freshman Cathryn Rogers (Toronto, Ontario) each tallied three shots on the day to pace the Green and White, while Kelsey Pichel (Rochester Hills, Mich.) put both of her shots on goal. Rogers, Erin Schwenke (Solon, Ohio), Rachael Goulding (Toronto, Ontario) and Jasmine Merith (Richmond Hill, Ontario) also recorded shots on goal.

Ohio had the better of the possession in the first half, but it was unable to get anything on the board. Rogers had a chance to put a score on the board in the 18th minute, but the RedHawks keeper made a nice save. Goulding nearly tallied one herself late in the half as she had a one-on-one breakaway with the Miami keeper coming out. The keeper managed to get her hands on Goulding's potential goal, however, and kept things scoreless at the half.

Both sides went back and forth at each other throughout the second half as neither defense would give an inch. Ohio had a couple promising chances to get on the board. Schwenke fired a shot from about 10 yards out that was square on goal, but Miami's keeper made the collection. The Green and White defense did its job towards the end of regulation as it stopped a pair of potentially threatening RedHawk chances.

The `Cats nearly dominated the possessions through both overtime periods as they outshot Miami a combined 5-1 during the two extra frames. Miami took advantage of one of its few possessions in Ohio territory early in the 108th minute. After a Bobcat foul drew the free kick, Lund managed to head the ball just into the left corner of the net to end things and snap the `Cats' six-game unbeaten streak.

Prior to the match, the Green and White paid its respects to four talented seniors. Amy Lower (West Chester, Ohio), Jess MacLean (Loveland, Ohio), Merith and Christa Puccio (Scaggsville, Md.) were all recognized for their time and talents that the contributed to the Ohio program during their four years in Athens.

Ohio will look to rebound Friday as it takes on Kent State on the road. First touch is set for 4 p.m. ET.