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Ohio Soccer Announces Spring Schedule
March 20, 2009
ATHENS, Ohio - Spring will be alive with the sights of Ohio soccer as the Bobcats have announced their 2009 spring slate of games in preparation for next year's campaign. Ohio will play six games, including five in Athens, over the next month and a half after having played two earlier this month. The `Cats opened the spring slate on March 7, with a pair of games in Dayton, when they took on Dayton and Northern Kentucky. The Green and White battled a strong Flyer team that advanced the finals of the Atlantic 10 Championship last season to a scoreless tie, before falling 1-0 in the last minute to a fresh Norse squad immediately after playing Dayton. April will highlight the majority of Ohio's spring action as it will play six games during the month. The competition on tap for the spring promises to test the `Cats and have them ready when fall training rolls around later this summer. First on the agenda will be an early look at the Green and White's first opponent for the 2009 season, Ohio State, when the `Cats head up the road to Columbus to battle the Buckeyes April 5, at 2 p.m. Three days later on April 8, Ohio will welcome Marshall to town in a rematch of this past season's contest that ended in a 1-1 tie. The middle of April will be highlighted by a 10 a.m. matchup with a Canadian club team, Erin Mills, at Chessa Field on April 19, prior to a free clinic hosted by Ohio's soccer players. A week later, April 26, Ohio will have a pair of games at Chessa Field, as the `Cats will look to exact some revenge on Xavier from a loss this past season. That contest will get under way at noon. Then at 3:30, they will take on the Columbus All-Stars, a women's all-star team from the Columbus area consisting of standout players from Ohio State, Kentucky, Dayton and Ohio, among others. In between those games, fans can enjoy a contest between the Musketeers and the Columbus All-Stars. Ohio will wrap up their spring slate on Saturday, May 16, with a game against the Ohio soccer alumni at 1 p.m. at Chessa Field. Ohio returns nearly its entire team for 2009, including First Team All-MAC performer Amy Lower and Rachael Goulding, who redshirted during the 2008 season to play internationally with her native Canada in the U20 World Cup. Ten talented freshmen will also join the squad for this coming season. Kickoff for the 2009 season will officially take place Aug. 28, when the `Cats travel up the road to battle Ohio State. Ohio will play its first official home game of the ledger on Sept. 6, when Cleveland State pays a visit to Chessa Field. 2009 Spring Schedule |
