Bobcats Drop MAC Quarterfinal Match at Miami

by Brett Compton

October 28, 2012

OXFORD, Ohio – Ohio Soccer’s 2012 season came to a close on Sunday afternoon, as the Bobcats lost a hard-fought Mid-American Conference Tournament battle by a final score of 1-0 at the No. 1 seeded Miami RedHawks.

Junior goalkeeper Mattie Liston (Lakewood, Ohio) turned in a heroic effort in the loss, stopping 15 of the 16 RedHawk shots which came her way. Liston’s 15 saves tied for second all-time in a single game while her 111 saves on the season tied for a single-season record. Her 15 saves also catapulted her into first place in program history for career goalkeeper saves, as she is now at 294 through three seasons of play.

Ohio (8-10-1) turned in a strong defensive effort to allow only one goal in the match, as Miami’s high-powered offense generated 30 total shots. The Bobcats recorded five shots in the match, two of which found their way on target.

Miami (17-2-1) got on the board in the sixth minute of the match, scoring when Kayla Zakrzewski found the back of the net following a long throw-in. The goal was her seventh of the season and was assisted by Katy Dolesh and Jess Bronke.

Ohio registered its first shot on goal in the 19th minute of the match when Liz Finley (Mason, Ohio) fired an attempt on target. This shot was stopped by RedHawk goalkeeper Allison Norenberg.

Liston made the save which set the new program record in the 36th minute on an attempt by Kelsey Dinges. This stop came during a period of intense Miami pressure which generated four shots and one corner kick in six minutes.

The Bobcats stepped up their pressure during the final moments of the match, fighting hard to find the equalizing goal. In the 69th minute, Maggie Murnane (Libertyville, Ill.) headed a shot just wide of goal. Seven minutes later in the 76th, Cathryn Rogers (Etobicoke, Ontario) hit a hard shot on target which was saved by Norenberg.

Fellow senior Erin Schwenke (Solon, Ohio) recorded Ohio’s final shot of the afternoon, whizzing an attempt just to the left of the target in the 79th minute.

Following its win over Ohio on Sunday, Miami will host the remainder of the 2012 Mid-American Conference Tournament.

Ohio Starting XI (Numerically): Liston (GK), Murnane, Rogers, Howard, Feeney, Schwenke, Bechtel, Harris, Finley, Campbell

Goals:
Miami – Kayla Zakrzewski 7 (Katy Dolesh 7, Jess Bronke 4) 6’