Oct. 23, 2009

Box Score

KENT, Ohio - Persistence paid off as Cathryn Rogers rebounded her own shot and knocked in the game-winning goal in the 91st minute to give Ohio a 1-0 win over Kent State in overtime amidst wet and sloppy conditions late Friday afternoon.

The win helped the `Cats inch even closer to a potential MAC Tournament berth. With the victory, Ohio also extended its undefeated conference road record to 4-0-1. Rogers' (Toronto, Ontario) goal was her third of the year and her second game winner overall. Jasmine Merith (Richmond Hill, Ontario) led Ohio (8-6-2, 5-2-2 MAC) with three shots on the day, while Rogers, Kim Nordtveit (Newtown, Pa.) and Kelsey Pichel (Rochester Hills, Mich.) each tallied two shots on the day. Jess MacLean recorded six saves in the net and picked up the shutout in the process for her career-best fifth of the season.

"It was a physical game with wet and sloppy playing conditions," Ohio coach Stacy Strauss said. "When we could with the conditions, we moved the ball around consistently. The goal was a product of the way we intend to play every game. A lot of credit goes to the players for hanging with it."

Regulation was not enough to decide this battle as both squads battled each other back and forth nearly the entire match. Each side recorded 12 shots on the day, with the `Cats tallying three shots on goal. The Golden Flashes (7-7-2, 3-4-2 MAC) applied some early pressure, but a MacLean save a few minutes in and clutch play from the Green and White's back line of Lauren Burke (Medina, Ohio), Sarah Brown (North Royalton, Ohio), Remi Famodu (Bloomington, Minn.) and Paige Howard (Mentor, Ohio) helped keep KSU out of the nets.

"This was one of Jess' (MacLean) better games in terms of decision making," Strauss said. "She organized things very well and did not allow any rebounds. The four in front of her also had a solid effort. They played strong and did not let Kent get in behind them."

Nordtveit came close to putting Ohio on the board late in the 42nd minute, but the Golden Flashes' keeper got in the way to turn the `Cats away. Both sides came out firing to start the second half and exchanged shots through the first 10 minutes. Toye Famodu (Bloomington, Minn.) and Merith both had opportunities to get Ohio on the board, but were denied by KSU's keeper.

The back-and-forth play continued throughout the rest of the second frame and the contest headed into overtime. The `Cats pounced on their opportunity early in the extra stanza as Merith fired a shot from 25 yards out on the left side that ricocheted off the cross bar to Rogers. Rogers then fired a shot of her own that was blocked away by the Golden Flash keeper. She quickly regrouped and fired another shot that settled into the back of the net to give the Green and White the 1-0 win.

Ohio will look to complete the weekend sweep Sunday when it heads to Buffalo to battle the Bulls. First touch is set for noon.