Courtesy of Facebook
Freshman midfielder Paige Hamilton looks for the ball during a game against New Hampshire, at Buckeye Varsity Field. OSU won, 3-2.
Ohio State’s field hockey team finished the Buckeye Classic 1-1.
On Friday the team was victorious against Missouri State, 5-1 and on Sunday they took on Bucknell and fell in overtime, 3-2.
In Friday’s game, sophomore forward Peanut Johnson recorded her first hat trick of the season, the second time in her career she has achieved the feat.
Johnson said the whole team stepped up and that contributed to the win.
“We really came together as a team. I don’t think one person tried to do too much,” Johnson said. “We just kind of tried to rely on each other. I think that’s what helped a lot.”
Coach Anne Wilkinson said she was impressed with many of the players’ aggressiveness and their abilities to attack the ball on both sides.
“I think (senior midfielder Mona Frommhold) really did a great job of keeping the space and the shape of our defense and being able to step up and intercept,” Wilkinson said. “And (senior) Maria Swartz, she was our left back, she must have had at least 12 interceptions out of the back and she was really playing aggressive and stepping up.”
Wilkinson said her players were faced with good pressure from the opponents but they were able to execute based on their fundamental skills. She also said they need to work on some more things as well.
“I think our stick skills really stood out… our ability to pass the ball and distribute, but we will continue to work on our team speed,” Wilkinson said.
Johnson said there are some things the team needs to improve on though.
“We just need to keep making sure we keep the work rate up and off ball movement too, like if we lose it we just need to keep hustling back. I think that will win some more games for us,” Johnson said.
Senior midfielder and co-captain, Arielle Cowie, said she noticed the team’s endurance was better due to all the practice they put into their fitness last week.
“There wasn’t a moment I was really tired and I think we didn’t let the intensity drop,” Cowie said. “We kept the tempo upbeat and it really helped that each and every person was on the same page.”
Even though the team fell in overtime again this season, senior midfield and co-captain, Nora Murer, said the squad did a great job together over the weekend.
“I think we worked really hard as a team,” Murer said.
The Buckeyes are scheduled to travel to Syracuse, N.Y., this weekend to play Massachusetts Saturday at 2 p.m. and Syracuse Sunday at 2 p.m.
