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Although a birth to the NCAA field hockey tournament was just a win away for the Miami University RedHawks, the 'Hawks had to first go through the No. 15 nationally ranked Ohio University Bobcats.
And despite jumping out to an early 2-0 lead, the RedHawks were unable to hold off Ohio, falling 3-2 in overtime in the Mid-American Conference Tournament Championship game.
"I think we put our hearts out there," senior forward Alyssa Nye said. "You put everything out there; you can't look back and regret when you've put it out. You worked really hard, your team did well and you've done everything you can. No regrets."
Miami Head Coach Jill Reeve knew her team gave their all, saying the 'Hawks were just on the wrong end of a well played game.
"I couldn't be more disappointed for the girls because they played out of their shoes and they really owned a lot of the second half," Reeve said. "Even in overtime, it happens sometimes in sports, you end up at the wrong end of a loss. I give Ohio a lot of credit for creating their own luck, and they certainly gave us a good challenge today, but I am very sad for the girls because I really think that they were very close to having it all today."
The 'Hawks dominated the first 20 minutes of the game when Nye scored the first goal unassisted just 16 minutes into the game. It was Nye's team-leading 12th goal of the season. Just five minutes later, off a corner penalty, junior midfielder Danielle Gaynor put Miami up two, deflecting a Taylor Florence shot past the OU goaltender.
Down 2-0, the Bobcats began to stir, scoring two goals of their own within the next seven minutes of the game. Nina Bruno added the first Ohio goal 21:59 in the first half, while Torrie Albini put in Ohio's second goal to knot the game up after the first half.
The second half of the game was a back-and-forth battle for both teams. Miami had three shots on goal and was awarded nine penalty corner shots during the half. The RedHawks didn't allow the Bobcats to get a single shot off during the half, but were unable to put a goal in themselves, sending the MAC Championship game went into sudden-death overtime.
Miami seemed in control during the first part of the overtime period, however, couldn't put in the game-winning goal. Off a penalty at the top of the circle, OU's Rachelle Coetzee fired a shot past RedHawk goalie Megan Stengel, ending Miami's season.
"I think that we executed our corners, they stuck to the game plan," Reeve said. "They played well, we outplayed the other team, and I just don't think I could have asked for more from them."
For the seniors Nye, Florence, Meredith Corradino, Courtney Furia, Meghan McMurtry and Laura Seidel, this game marked something special: their last game at Miami.
"This is our last season and this is what we've been working for since we got here-this game, this moment-and sometimes things go your way and sometimes they don't," Florence said. "OU played a great game and we played a great game, it just happened that they got the last shot."
The RedHawks ended their season with a 10-11 record; while the Bobcats will move on to face the winner of the Patriot League in the play-in game for the NCAA Tournament Tuesday in Athens, Ohio.
