Michigan Weekend Preview: Ohio

Since the Ohio University is new to the MCLA this year, we don't have a recent history to draw upon to know how good the Bobcats will be. Thus, the entire Ohio University body of work in the MCLA is as follows:

Ohio University 2011
Opponent	Result
@ Georgia	W 9-5
@ Auburn	L 12-13

They had a game against Tennessee canceled, and have also lost to Ohio State's club team (an NCLL - i.e. non-virtual-varsity team). Those results are good enough to land them at #21 in Laxpower's computer rankings.

Tennessee is winless in 5 games this year, mostly against bad competition, while Auburn has racked up a 5-2 record against poor competition themselves. The SELC - composed mostly of SEC and ACC teams - is a traditionally very weak conference outside of a few strong teams at the top.

Players to Watch

The Bobcats have six players averaging two points/game or better through their first two MCLA games, led by junior midfielder Harrison Hess (3G, 4A) and senior attack Jon Hoelzel (3G, 3A). Senior attack Brett Killian is a designated finisher, with 4 goals but no assists so far on the year.

The Bobcats' page on MCLA.us has no stats outside of scoring, so it's tough to say who the important defensive players are for OU, and how they've performed on faceoffs.

Their goalie is junior Michael Moretti, who has 18 goals against and 39 saves, for a .684 save percentage.

Predictions

Like most CCLA conference games (against teams other than Michigan State) have been in the recent past, this should be nothing short of a cakewalk for the Wolverines. Ohio allowed more goals to Auburn than any other other MCLA team has aside from a pitiful LSU squad, and scored fewer on Georgia than anybody else. This is not a good team.

The Bobcats are due for a rude awakening against the poster boy for well-oiled virtual varsity squads, with the best offense, best defense, most frustrating ride, etc., of any team they'll see this season.

This should serve as little other than a tune-up for Michigan's top couple lines, before the Wolverines welcome BYU and Pitt to Oosterbaan Fieldhouse. At least four Michigan players will get hat tricks, and Ohio won't get on the board until the game is well in-hand late in the fourth quarter. The Bobcats will finish less than .500 on their clears, as Michigan cruises to a 28-2 victory.