With a single goal, scored from a scramble in the box after a floater was deflected off the crossbar by Jessie Sanderson, the Bearcats earned a numerical advantage on their regional rival in this afternoons exhibition game. Coach Benjamin Wade was quoted in a release in advance of the game
“We have six line changes, so hockey fans will feel right at home with the players switching in and out so much.”
and the Panthers felt it as they traveled with only 3 on the bench today.
The disadvantage to those numbers is that the Bearcats need more time learning positions and teammates in advance of their first game of the season next week at Oakland City (IN). The MIAA preseason poll puts the Bearcats in the middle of the pack, at #5, for a team that returns four starters from last year’s 9-8-3 team, which finished 8-5-1 in the MIAA. With newcomer Rhiane Mitchell (#14, England) providing pace up top, and sophomore Johanna Olsson (Sweden) in goal coming in with only 34 minutes of playing time last season, ensuring he has a solid defense in place with be Wade’s key priority. Local recruits Blair Baker (Camdenton) and Tasha Lord (Waynesville) both got minutes in the 2nd half in the attack as did Ashley Wilson (Neosho) at wing midfield.
For the Panthers, it was an opportunity to get minutes for Meredith Hall and Katy McLain as well the starting 11 we saw Saturday. Kelsey Long appears to be in mid-season form already and the opportunities the Panthers had today all came from her ability to create space, win the 1v1 battle in midfield and send her teammates into the box. Emily West and Bailey Randol (pictured above in white, in what became a collision with Denarika Bostwick that drew loud exclamations from the SBU football team on the sideline) worked incredibly hard in front of captain Chloe Moushey to frustrate the Bearcat attack. Still early but the Panthers continue to create their own luck, going into a season that has them ranked #2 in the GLVC.
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