Looking for its first win since upsetting Western Michigan University on Oct. 9, NIU women’s soccer (4-8-3, 2-5-2 MAC) fell on the road against the University of Ohio Bobcats (4-8-5, 2-4-4 MAC) in a 3-0 loss on Sunday.
“We just weren’t good enough today,” said NIU head coach Michael O’Neill via NIU Athletics . “First half, first 25 minutes, we weren’t at the races, they scored two goals, and we had a mountain to climb. Not much tactical or matchup wise, I just don’t think we were ready to compete, which is a shame because that hasn’t been an issue this year, or for a good few games.”
The Bobcats opened the scoring in the 10th minute of the game when junior midfielder/forward Jaimason Brooker sent the ball past sophomore goalkeeper Lauren Pearson.
The Bobcats doubled their lead in the 24th minute as graduate student defender Quintin Tostevin found the back of the net.
The Huskies were outshot 8-2 in the first half and entered halftime with a 2-0 deficit.
The Bobcats found their third of the night in the 80th minute, when Tostevin got her second of the night off an assist from Brooker.
The only shot on goal for NIU came in the 51st minute from junior midfielder Tyra King, but her shot to the top right of the goal was saved by Bobcats senior goalkeeper Celeste Sloma.
NIU struggled on offense against the Bobcats, ending the game trailing 20(11)-5(1) in shots.
King recorded 2 shots, while forwards senior Kelsi McLaughlin and forward Laurina Bilombo-Bemba also added a shot, but were unable to find the back of the net.
Pearson recorded season highs in saves and shots faced, saving eight shots, facing 20 and allowing 3 goals.
UP NEXT
The Huskies look to get back in the win column on the road next against Eastern Michigan University at noon on Sunday at Scicluna Field in Ypsilanti, Michigan. The match will be streamed on ESPN+ and live stats will be available on SIDEARM Sports.
