Soccer Forced into Draw, 1-1, in Final Minute at Ohio

Thursday, October 12

Athens, Ohio / Chessa Field

4 PM

Central Michigan University

2-5-5, 1-4-2

Ohio

4-6-4, 2-3-2

Central Mich.

Ohio

Photo by: Sydney Kline '26 - @sydney.kline.photography

10/12/2023 6:40:00 PM | Soccer

Box Score Box Score

Megan Scholten’s first career goal in the 27th minute nearly held for a crucial MAC victory, Bobcats score with 34 seconds remaining to cling to a point in the league standings

By: Harrison LaLone

ATHENS, Ohio — Central Michigan Soccer took home a draw Thursday night in Mid-American Conference play at Ohio University, 1-1, on a last-minute equalizer from the Bobcats despite another impressive outing from Allison LaPoint (Royal Oak, Mich. / Shrine Catholic) and Megan Scholten's (Charlevoix, Mich. / Charlevoix) first career goal standing unopposed for over 60 minutes.

"We have a lot of positives from this game," Head Coach Jeremy Groves offered, "and have to come out with the same hunger on Sunday. We're at a crunch time for picking up points."

A long-awaited moment in Scholten's career came in the 27^th minute as the Chippewas (2-5-5, 1-4-2 MAC) recorded, and capitalized on, their first corner of the contest. The set piece served in by Claudia Muessig (Paw Paw, Mich. / Paw Paw) was settled and struck by Scholten just outside the 6' after bouncing around in the box.

Thursday's contest was the 49^th appearance in Scholten's Central Michigan career with over 2,000 minutes played to her record, scoring on just her 13^th career shot.

The Chippewas opened the contest with two quick attempts up front, but the Bobcats (4-6-4, 2-3-2 MAC) took charge for much of the first 20-plus minutes. Two of LaPoint's three first-half saves came against open Ohio runs inside the penalty area to preserve the clean sheet through 45 minutes.

CMU got to work on the defensive end in the second half, allowing just one shot on goal from Ohio for a 30-minute window in the second half after back-to-back saves from LaPoint in the 53^rd minute.

"We defended so well throughout," Groves said, "to give one up through a shot that was blocked and looped to their player is hard to take."

One final desperation cross into the box for the Bobcats in the final minute was deflected just outside the 18', turning the play into a jump ball in front of the net, headed down for the equalizer with just 34 seconds left on the clock.

"I feel absolutely sick for our team," Groves added. "We did so much right and worked so hard today: to give up a fluke goal in the last 34 seconds is hard … we have to keep plugging away to break this cycle we're in."

Central Michigan Soccer returns to Mount Pleasant Sunday for a 1 p.m. kickoff with Akron at the CMU Soccer Complex. The Chippewas' regular-season home finale will take place the following Sunday (Oct. 22) against Northern Illinois.

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