After being picked to finish ninth in the preseason Mid-American Conference coaches’ poll, the Ohio soccer team has exceeded expectations this year and could secure at least a third-place finish with a win this afternoon against Akron.
The ’Cats (8-8-1, 6-3-1 MAC) have come a long way since last season’s disappointing campaign when they tallied just one league win. The squad is still full of players who have experienced success in the past and co-captain midfielder Callie Broomfield said the ’Cats have been working to find it again.
“That’s our goal, to get back to and win the tournament and go to the NCAA,” she said. “It’s big. I think everyone’s starting to feel it.”
Before the tournament can begin, Ohio will have to get past Akron (11-6, 4-6 MAC). The Zips are led on the pitch by forward Christine Vacha, who has collected six goals and two assists this season. The ’Cats also will have to continue their high-scoring ways against Akron goalkeeper Krystin Wilson, who has played a large role in her squad’s conference-leading nine shutouts.
Ohio coach Stacy Strauss said her squad isn’t going to back down from the challenge and that they are hitting their stride at just the right time.
“We’re definitely playing our best, especially last weekend,” she said. “It certainly makes us optimistic.”
Regardless of how the ’Cats have played lately, Ohio defender Mary McPhail said they can’t look ahead and they have plenty of reasons to stayed focused on the Zips.
“It’s motivation to play our first tournament game at home,” she said. “We still have potential to be first in the MAC, so that’s plenty of motivation right there.”
With the regular season coming to a close, tournament seeding is beginning to take shape and Ohio currently sits at third. With only the top eight getting a slot in the postseason tournament, Akron is currently on the outside looking in at the ninth position.
Strauss said that sense of urgency could elevate the Zips’ play.“Desperate teams are dangerous,” she said. “I think they’re really going to look to win and do everything they can. It’ll be a battle.”
While pairings in the bracket are anything but set, it’d be impossible to deny they are on the minds of the Bobcats. Archrival Miami is in sixth place and, if the tournament were to start today, would face Ohio at Chessa Field in the first round. The RedHawks downed the ’Cats 3-0 in their only meeting this year in Oxford.
Broomfield said Ohio would love a second chance.
“I think everybody wants a rematch because we just weren’t there,” she said. “It’d be an advantage with it at our home field. It’d be a completely different game.”
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