In a rematch of last season’s Mid-American Conference field hockey championship game, the outcome was a familiar one.

Ohio defeated Miami 2-0 yesterday afternoon at Murphy-Mellis Field to advance to the MAC Tournament championship game for the third straight season.

“Miami is a tough team to play,” Ohio coach Neil Macmillan said. “It was a physical game out there, and we were fortunate to put the ball in the back of the net.”

Ohio will face tournament host Kent State at 1 p.m. today at Murphy-Mellis Field as the Bobcats attempt to win their third straight tournament title. The Bobcats and Flashes split their two meetings this season, with each team winning on the road.

“We look at ourselves as a great chance, as we were the only MAC team to beat Kent on this field this past year,” Macmillan said. “We know that they’re a very good team, and hopefully we’ll give them a good run (today).”

Against Miami, the Bobcats took the lead at the 17:23 mark on a goal from sophomore forward Katherine Ballard off a pass from senior midfielder Estienne Coetzee. Ohio would add to its lead in the second period with a breakaway goal from junior forward Marcy Dull at the 48:06 mark.

Senior goalkeeper Jessie Martin recorded three saves in the game to get the shutout for the Bobcats.

Miami outshot Ohio 9-7, but the RedHawks could not capitalize on their three shots on goal. Freshman goalkeeper Abbey Huck recorded one save in the game.

Today will mark the third straight day Ohio will play, while Kent State has only played one game in the tournament thus far. The Flashes beat Central Michigan in the first game today.

“It probably hurts us when you compare us against Kent because they’ve just (played) one game,” Macmillan said. “Because it’s a MAC championship, I think you got the adrenaline running, and I don’t think players are going to be too weary.”

Contact sports reporter Nick Walton at [email protected].