Field hockey hosts Ohio University
The field hockey team will host the Ohio Bobcats in a MAC match at 2 p.m. Thursday at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.
The Bobcats are 4-6 this season and are coming off a loss to No. 5 Michigan State Sunday. Ohio is 1-2 in the MAC, but lost to No. 7 Kent State and No. 11 Louisville in double overtime.
“Ohio is a very dangerous team,” said Head Coach Cristy Freese. “I said this before, I think that Ohio and Kent State are the two toughest teams in our conference.”
Leading the way for the Bobcats has been sophomore Elizabeth Unger, who has 23 points this season, with 17 of those coming in the last six games. She averages more than a goal a game.
“Obviously we need to shut her down,” Freese said. “She is the leading scorer in the MAC, and she was a leading scorer last year too. When we were scouting Ohio, we saw that she has only started three games, so she is getting a lot of time off the bench.”
The Chippewas match up well with Ohio. Both have scored 25 goals this season. CMU has allowed 20 goals to Ohio’s 25. The Chippewas are edging opponents in shots this season, 15-13.
Freese said the key against the Bobcats will be defense and cashing in on offensive opportunities.
“Ohio plays pretty tight defense,” Freese said. “We need to convert on all of the chances we get offensively. Ohio has proved they can score, and our defense needs to shut them down.”
The Chippewas are giving away 7.5 penalty corners this season and Ohio is getting 10.3 penalty corners a game.
“Traditionally, Ohio has had some very deceptive corner plays,” Freese said. “As a team, we have discussed that our corner defense is very important. Our best corner defense is not to allow any penalty corners.”
