OXFORD, Ohio – Ohio University scored the first five goals of the day and the Miami soccer team was unable to overcome the deficit in a 5-2 loss on Thursday afternoon.

Thursday's setback drops the RedHawks to 3-12-1 overall and 2-6-1 in Mid-American Conference play.

The Bobcats (10-6-1, 5-3-1 MAC) got going on the attack right away, nearly going up in the second minute when Abby Townsend got fed in front of the keeper box, but her bid went high. Townsend would later score in the seventh minute when she intercepted a goal kick and lofted one over Izzie Vaccari and in to put OU up 1-0.

Miami nearly answered in the 16th minute when a corner kick service by Jordan King caused all sorts of havoc. The RedHawks registered four shots, two of which got past goalkeeper Sydney Malham, but the Bobcat defenders on the line blocked those bids to stay ahead.

As the half wore on, Ohio got another on the board as Townsend switched it to the left side of the box for Maddie Young, who slipped a high shot into the far upper 90 to make it a 2-0 contest at halftime.

Things took a turn for the worse in the second half as the Bobcats scored three times in a 4:17 span to go up 5-0. Sarina Dirrig jammed in a loose ball in front in the 59th minute before Morgan Collica and then Townsend scored 19 seconds apart to cap OU's scoring. The RedHawks ended the shutout bid on an own goal in the 85th minute and 2:12 later it was Elle Gill netting her first career goal by finishing a feed from Abby Casmere to end the overall scoring on the day.

The Bobcats outshot the RedHawks 23-10 while MU had a 6-1 lead in corner kicks at the end. Vaccari made six saves for Miami.

Miami continues its home stand on Sunday when it hosts Kent State in a must-win contest to stay alive in the MAC Tournament race. Prior to the 1 p.m. kickoff, MU will honor seniors Reagan Fleck and Olivia Winnett as part of Senior Day.