Miami Student

Issue date: 9/14/07 Section: Sports

Miami junior Elizabeth Gilroy battles a Buckeye defender. --Michael Pickering/The Miami Student

Senior Meghan McMurtry takes on the Ohio State goaltender during Wednesday's field hockey game. The RedHawks had a one goal lead late in the game before giving up the tying goal and eventually losing in overtime. --Michael Pickering/The Miami Student

Playing at home for the first time this season, the Miami University field hockey team fell Wednesday afternoon to Ohio State University 2-1 in overtime.

The RedHawks opened the scoring early in the contest with a goal coming off of a corner shot 15 minutes into the game. Danielle Gaynor was able to deflect Taylor Florence's drive from the top of the circle, shooting the ball high over the goalie's shoulder, and into the net. The play was one the 'Hawks had worked on in practice, and were confident in.

"I felt like that play was going to work today, so when (Head Coach Jill Reeve) called it I got really excited," Gaynor said. "It's just all about timing really. Taylor and I just timed it right and it went up top."

Miami came out in the second half determined to keep their one goal lead. Midfielder Jessica Reading threw her body in front of an empty net, stopping what would have then been the game tying goal.

"The goalie's a player too so you have to be aware and mark up," Reading said. "I saw the two girls in front and was able to knock it out of there."

The rest of the game was a back and forth battle between the RedHawks and Buckeyes, and though the 'Hawks were out shot by the Buckeyes 14-12, the score was evened at one just minutes before the end of the game.

Ohio State scored a goal off a long hit and a tip in, with only 3:10 left in the second half. The heartbreaking goal clearly put a damper on what seemed to be like a sure, solid defensive victory for the RedHawks.

However, Reeve was happy with the way her defensive unit played.

"I thought the defense played really well," Reeve said. "Ohio State, give them credit, they have a very fast front line and I think that we handled and managed them really well."

The Buckeyes would use that speed to their advantage in overtime, with both teams only fielding seven players as opposed to 11 in regulation.

This spread out the field immensely, and five minutes into the overtime period Ohio State's Emily Mikac scored on a breakaway giving Ohio State the 2-1 victory.

Although the loss was disappointing for the entire team, Reeve noted the positives.

"I think that we played to the game plan, they stuck together and it was a really good match," Reeve said. "There was a moment in the game, where we really needed to up our goal and we needed to win it. I think that our mentality needs to be really tough in that moment."

The 'Hawks will play their Mid-American Conference opener at Ball State Saturday.

"We're opening the MAC, I think that's exciting," Reeve said. "I think that our girls are ready for that. A lot of the games we've played up to this weekend have been in preparation for the MAC. I think we're as well prepared as we can be."

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