Home Game Hits: September Sports Recap

Fall sports are in full swing at Ohio Northern University, and the student-athletes wasted no time transitioning into competitive mode. The Polar Bears have faced challenging opponents and celebrated sweet victories on their home ground throughout September. 

Let’s take a look at some of the past month’s most memorable sports moments on campus.

Volleyball

The volleyball team held their 46th annual ONU Invitational this month, hosting six teams from across the Midwest for a tournament. The sports center was filled with visiting athletes and their supporters during the two-day event. 

The Polar Bears defeated Wooster 3-0 for their first match of the tournament. The team fell short in their following matches against Case Western Reserve, Albion (Mich.), and Millikin (Ill.). The losses were unfortunate, but gave the team an opportunity to hone their skills for the next challenge.

As it turned out, the volleyball team’s next tough opponent came to Ada just one week later. The Polar Bears competed against Mount St. Joseph for nearly two and a half hours, going into extended play before finishing the match with a 3-2 victory. The long game was filled with tension, but the Polar Bears persevered through the difficulty to secure the win.

Men’s and Women’s Soccer

Soccer, like many sports, requires a significant amount of endurance. Athletes constantly run across the field during 45-minute halves in an effort to maintain control of the ball and ultimately score a goal. One can only imagine the stamina it took for both teams to play in the intense fall heat and direct sunlight one mid-September evening against two formidable opponents. 

The women’s soccer team has hosted several games at Kerscher Stadium in the past month, but perhaps the most memorable was against Transylvania (Ky.). The heat radiating from the turf did not hold the Polar Bears back from playing a well-fought game. Two goals were scored by Ohio Northern and goalkeeper Morgan Moeller made three saves against Transylvania’s offense, ending the game with a final score of 2-0.

The men’s soccer team challenged Rose-Hulman (Ind.) to a match later that evening. Both teams scored in the first half, which increased the stakes for the remainder of the game. The Polar Bear defense stepped up to ensure their opponents would not score the winning point. The tight game ended with a 1-1 draw.

Football

The stadium buzzed with energy at football’s first home game thanks to the newly installed student section: the Polar Pit. The first 75 students received free rally towels, but it was the section leaders who attracted a crowd within the designated area. The continuous chants and music originating from the Polar Pit gave each student an opportunity to feel involved in the game. 

Good vibes were not limited to the stands, for the football team had a run of good cheer as well. The beautiful weather paired with Senior Day festivities was reason enough to be in high spirits. Add a 33-13 win over Heidelberg University to the list and you’ve got quite the home-opener.

Men’s and Women’s Cross Country

Let’s throw in the Bluffton University Beaver Dam Invite as an honorable mention. While the invitational was not a formal home event, the 20-minute drive down country roads hardly counts as travel. Besides, Ohio Northern’s triumph over the opposing teams is worth mentioning. 

Over 130 athletes gathered on Labor Day weekend to run the freshly mowed paths of the Bluffton Nature Reserve. The golden hour lighting and faint summer breeze created the perfect environment for the men’s and women’s teams to earn first place in their respective races. 

Perhaps the greatest highlight of the evening was when the ONU alumni club team joined their former teammates on the course. The club team’s grit was as strong as ever as they finished right behind the university runners, claiming second place.

Takeaways

September challenged Ohio Northern’s student athletes to keep their heads in the game while balancing heavy course loads. Adjusting to the academic year and the demands of a rigorous schedule may not be easy, but it is imperative that each athlete learns from their highs and lows this past month and is prepared to face the remainder of the season.