Rogers Scores Late Game-Winner at MSU

by Brett Compton

August 31, 2012

MOREHEAD, Ky. - Ohio Soccer senior Cathryn Rogers has taken her game to a new level. The midfielder propelled the Bobcats to their second consecutive win on Friday night at Morehead State, scoring her second consecutive game-winning goal to help the Green and White claim a 1-0 road victory.

The senior has now scored four goals on the season and ten her in Bobcat career. Seven of Rogers's ten goals have been game-winners and the Bobcats (2-3) have posted a 7-2 mark during games in which the senior has found the back of the net.

Junior goalkeeper Mattie Liston earned her second consecutive shutout in the win, bringing her career total to 12. The native of Lakewood, Ohio stopped six shots on Friday night.

Morehead State (0-4) created the first opportunity of the evening when McKenzie Word fired a shot on goal just a few minutes into the match. Liston was in good position for the attempt and was able to make the early save to keep the scores level at 0-0.

Veronica Rock (North Royalton, Ohio) had a nice chance for the Bobcats just a few minutes later, hitting a shot on target 13 minutes into the match. MSU goalkeeper Elizabeth Floyd was able to make the save on this attempt.

The last five minutes of the first half proved to be quite exciting, as the teams combined for three shots in a short period of time. Alex Pacitto and Macy Cobb hit shots off target for the Eagles before Ohio's Sasha Haverchak (Akron, Ohio) hit an attempt towards goal with 103 seconds remaining in the half. Floyd was equal to this one as well.

Despite these opportunities, the teams played a scoreless first 45 minutes. Morehead State held a 5-4 lead in shots and a 2-1 advantage in corner kicks at the halftime break.

Following a span of back-and-forth play in the middle stages of the second half, Ohio stepped up its offensive pressure. Rogers (Etobicoke, Ontario) fired a hard shot on goal with just over 12 minutes remaining in the match, one which Floyd was able to stop. Not even 90 seconds later, freshman Lauren Haley (Charlestown, Ind.) rang one off the crossbar, missing the potential game-winning goal by a matter of inches. Rogers then had another attempt with nine minutes to play but it was blocked by the MSU defense.

This pressure ultimately paid off in the end when Rogers was able to find the back of the net with just 2:13 remaining in the match. The senior midfielder controlled the ball well and fired a shot from six yards out to beat Floyd. Rogers's late goal was assisted by Haley.

The Bobcats will next be in action on Friday, Sept. 7 when they host Niagara. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. from Chessa Field.

Ohio Starting XI (Numerically): Mattie Liston (GK), Cathryn Rogers, Maggie Murnane, Paige Howard, Erin Feeney, Veronica Rock, Erin Schwenke, Natalie Bechtel, Tonya Frasik, Gabby Hausfeld, Grace Campbell