Friday’s Scoreboard
Miami 1, Ball State 0
Longwood 1, Central Michigan 0
Ohio 6, App State 5
Stories Courtesy Of MAC Sports Information
Miami 1, Ball State 0
Box Score
OXFORD, Ohio – The Miami University field hockey team (4-3) opened conference play with a 1-0 shutout win in overtime against Ball State on Friday on faculty/staff appreciation day.
The RedHawks controlled possession during most of the first half but the game remained scoreless at halftime with Miami having the lead in shots (8-0), penalty corners (4-0) and shots on goal (3-0).
The story remained the same throughout the second half of play as Miami continued to control the ball and create offensive chances in front of a strong defensive front. The RedHawks kicked their offensive pressure up a notch, doubling their shot total from the first half with eight shots and five penalty corners in the third quarter.
Ball State would take its only shot of the game during the 55th minute of play but it trickled wide.
Freshman goalkeeper Wietske Overkijkink registered 11 saves for Ball State during regulation, a 12thsave coming from a defensive player, as the game remained scoreless after 60 minutes of play.
Miami began the overtime period with possession and did not give that up as the offense drove down the field and earned a penalty corner in the second minute of overtime play. Noor Breedijk put the ball into the cage for her first goal of the season to give Miami the win. Leonor Berlie provided the pass to Breedijk to earn the assist.
Longwood 1, Central Michigan 0
Box Score
FARMVILLE, Va. – It took a relentless wave of offensive pressure, but the Lancers were eventually able to score the goal they needed.
It took Longwood (4-2, 1-0 MAC) a season-high 32 shots to get that goal, which came off the stick of Sophia Loscher, but it was enough to send the Lancers past Central Michigan 1-0 in their first MAC contest of the year Friday afternoon at Elizabeth Burger Jackson Field. The win was the third straight for the Lancers, who have now engineered three straight shutouts, all at home.
That latest clean sheet was the third of the season and 12th career for senior goalkeeper Katie Wyman, who ranks third in school history in that category. She stopped the lone shot she faced Friday, earning the one-save shutout behind a staunch Longwood backline and midfield that held the Chippewas (2-6, 0-1 MAC) to just two shots the entire game.
Longwood's dominance in the midfield made for a difficult day in goal for Central Michigan keeper Abigail Ebersole who put forth a heroic effort with 15 saves on Longwood's 16 shots. She stopped the first 10 shots she faced before Loscher broke through less than two minutes before halftime.
"It was a good game," said head coach Iain Byers. "I think we played very well, as did their goalkeeper. It was a very impressive performance from her—we put the ball at her, but she made the saves she needed to. Towards the end it got a little hectic and we would have liked to been a bit more comfortable, but a 1-0 win against a powerful team and 1-0 in the MAC is a good start."
Longwood senior Olivia Wawrzyniak led Longwood with eight shots, and midfielder Charlotte Wilm added six of her own. Freshman Caroline Verhappen made her first collegiate start for Longwood in the midfield, recording one shot on goal, while contributing significantly to Longwood's possession dominance.
Loscher's deciding goal came just before the end of the first half. Following a pair of cards against the Chippewas, Loscher was able to get her stick on a loose ball in the arc and put it in to give the Lancers all the cushion that they would need.
"I think we had most of the possession, at least in the first 30 minutes," said Clara Meschini, who added three shots to complement her strong defensive play. "We struggled a little finishing plays in their circle, so I think we need to keep working on finishing the good balls in the end to score more goals."
For Wyman, the stretch of three consecutive shutouts is a career high, and the first time the Lancers have recorded three straight shutouts under Byers. The defensive backline of Luna Lopez, Clara Meschini, and Rio Weber helped hold Central Michigan to just two total shots in the game.
With the win, the Lancers improved to 1-0 in the MAC as they begin their journey back to the MAC tournament, which they have reached for three consecutive seasons. That journey back to the postseason will break for a three-game stretch of non-conference games against Vermont, Virginia and William & Mary before resuming against Ohio on Oct. 5.
"We want to place in the top three in the MAC and go to the final this year," said Meschini.
Winning their first conference game is a step in the right direction for Longwood.
Up next for the Lancers is Vermont, who they will host on Friday, Sept. 27. The game is set to start at 2 p.m.
Ohio 6, App State 5
Box Score
ATHENS -- The Ohio field hockey team (4-1) started MAC play by erasing a four-goal deficit in the fourth period, coming from behind to win 6-5.
The Bobcats traveled to Boone, N.C. to start their Mid-American Conference schedule, without knowing they would play one of the most exciting games in Ohio field hockey history.
Ohio started hot when junior Emma Spinetto (Louisville, Ky.) scored the first goal of the game with less than 90 seconds off the clock. However, Appalachian State countered with a goal of their own just over a minute later, scored by Anna Smarrelli. The Bobcats received their second goal of the game from redshirt sophomore Tayla Hansen (Levin, New Zealand), her second of the season.
The Mountaineers started the second period with a game-tying goal, knotting the match at two-a-piece. Then, before halftime, Appalachian State took the lead with a goal from Rachel Fleig. At the half, redshirt senior Sophia Boothby (Spotsylvania, Va.) had six saves on nine shots on goal, and the Bobcats were losing the shot battle 13-9.
The start of the second half was quiet, with senior Karynne Baker (Falls Church, Va.) recording a couple shots on goal, before Appalachian State jumped out to a 5-2 lead. The rally started at the beginning of the fourth period, when junior Leah Warren (Hamilton, New Zealand) tallied her third goal of the season, assisted by senior Brittany Keen (Perth, Western Australia). Ohio made it a 5-4 game with 4:46 to play when redshirt senior Kendall Ballard (Charlottesville, Va.) scored her fourth of the season. Then, with 2:22 remaining in the game, OU tied it all up when junior Jillian Shive(Lebanon, Ohio) scored her second goal of the season, assisted by Ballard.
Finally, with 49 ticks left on the game clock, Ohio drew a penalty corner. With Keen sending it in, the set from Spinetto, and the shot from Warren, the Bobcats completed the comeback, scoring their sixth goal of the match. "Our team was inspirational tonight", said second-year head coach Ali Johnstone. "To be down three goals and one player going into the last quarter, and pulling out a win, is ridiculous. It all came down to belief in each other and relentless effort and energy from all 22 players. There are no words to explain how proud I am of this team."
Ohio continues their North Carolina road trip as they travel to Durham to take on #2 Duke on Sunday. First touch is scheduled for 12 p.m.
