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HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Ohio State football team (1-0-1) returned to action on Thursday night (Aug. 20) and played on the road against Northern Kentucky (0-2-0), with the Bobcats emerging victorious 4-0.

Overall, Ohio outscored NKU in shots on goal 19-5, with the Norse taking 10 shots on goal to just two. NKU’s goalies stopped two shots while Ohio took four corner kicks.

Individually, Jamison Brooker (Powell, Ohio) and Scout Murray (Chicago, Ill.) tied the lead for Ohio with two shots and a goal each, while Brooker also added an assist. Junior, Rayann Pruss (Perrysburg, Ohio.) added another shot on goal, with a goal. Next up Junior, Maia Kaufman (Westerville, Ohio) also took a shot on goal, a goal for the Bobcats. Norah Roush (Dublin, Ohio) had one shot on goal, while Junior Ella Deevers (Streetsboro, Ohio) added an assist.

Online, Junior Celeste Sloma (Columbus, Ohio) pitched a shutout, played all 90 minutes and recorded two saves.

Ohio opened the game with a goal by Pruss in the fifth minute into the middle of the net with an assist from Deevers, giving Ohio an early 1-0 lead. The Bobcats and Norse battled for possession over the next few minutes, but Ohio was stronger offensively, leading to a shot on goal by Brooker that was saved by NKU goalie Tristen Cross. The Bobcats continued to attack the Norse, however, with Roush and Brooker firing consecutive shots on goal, with Brooker’s attempt being blocked.

The Bobcats continued to show their dominance in the first half, having more possession than the Norse, which led to a second goal by Kaufman into the high left side of the net in the 21st minute. The game went into halftime with the Bobcats leading 2-0.

At halftime, Ohio outscored NKU in shots on goal 8-2, with the Bobcats recording five shots on goal.

Ohio opened the second half with fire and it paid off early and in the 47th minute Murray placed the ball in the middle of the net giving Ohio a 3-0 lead early in the half. The Bobcats offense gained control in the first part of the second half and really showed a synchronized rhythm that kept the Bobcats ahead. As the minutes went by Murray recorded two shots on goal with the first blocked and the second saved by the NKU goalkeeper. The Norse tried to upset the Bobcats with a shot on goal by Sofia Wilmes but Sloma parried the ball in the middle keeping the Bobcats lead. In the 55th minute Ohio’s pressure paid off when Brooker’s pass attempt reached Murray allowing her first goal of the season and putting Ohio up 4-0.

NKU struggled over the next few minutes as Ohio continued to hold possession over the Norse. NKU fought for possession in the 60th minute, but Brooker fought back with another shot on goal that was blocked. NKU attempted a shot on goal but was again saved by Sloma. In the final 20 minutes of the game, Roush shot a low left-foot shot at the net but was saved by NKU goalkeeper Megan Gessner. After a few substitutions by the Norse, NKU continued to fight in the final minutes of the game with the Bobcats keeping NKU away from the goal and securing the 4-0 win.

The Bobcats return to action on Sunday, August 25, when they travel to East Lansing, Michigan, to face Michigan State in a rematch of the first round of the NCAA Tournament. First contact is at 1 p.m. and can be seen on BTN+.

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