Even Mid-American Conference women’s soccer has a ‘west side story.’
After the first weekend of conference play, a chasm between the MAC East and West Divisions is beginning to show.
Five of the six West Division squads picked up at least one win in conference play last weekend, but only two East Division teams earned wins. The West went 7-4-1 and scored 21 goals, while the East posted a 4-7-1 mark and put 15 balls in the net.
MAC West schools have 11 more wins than MAC East schools this season despite having played two fewer games.
Only one East squad has more than four wins this season, but five West schools have five or more victories. The West has allowed 36 fewer goals than the East.
“Some of the traditional powerhouses in the conference are certainly in the West,” said coach Stacy Strauss, adding that strength of schedule often plays a role in a team’s overall record and goal differential.
“Each year has been different in terms of parity,” she said.
This is the first season the conference has been split into six-team divisions. The two division champions will clinch the top two seeds in the MAC Tournament in November.
Ohio (3-4-2, 0-1-1 MAC) was one of four MAC East teams not to pick up a win this weekend, but still finds itself in third place in the division. No conference team won on the road this past weekend.
“We’ll take any point we can get,” Strauss said. “We were the only road team to get any road point at all.”
Winning a MAC Tournament title will be difficult for the Bobcats or any other MAC East school, as a MAC West squad has won the regular season and tournament championship each of the last four seasons.
“It’s probably something we’ll think about later in the season as all that pans out,” Strauss said. “But for now, everyone still has to play every other team, so it’s proven again to be a tough conference – very physical games throughout from top to bottom.”
The Bobcats’ schedule is especially top-heavy. Ohio plays all six West Division squads before facing the other five teams in the East Division.
“The trip to Michigan that we just took is, for everybody in the conference, probably the toughest road trip,” Strauss said. “As long as we stay confident and don’t freak out, it’s good to get those out of the way. You’d like to think you’re continuing to improve and learn from playing quality competition.”