Buckeyes Drop 1-0 Heartbreaker at Michigan State – Ohio State Buckeyes
11/6/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
EAST LANSING, Mich. – The No. 11 Buckeyes dropped a tight 1-0 decision to Michigan State Friday afternoon in East Lansing.
Ohio State will now have to wait until Sunday for the result Penn State’s contest at Michigan. If the Nittany Lions lose in Ann Arbor, the Buckeyes and Penn State will share the Big Ten Conference championship.
“Soccer is a cruel sport,” head coach Lori Walker said. “I credit Michigan State for capitalizing but while this loss is painful, it could be the best thing for us.”
The loss was the first for the Buckeyes since Oct. 4 at Penn State.
In a physical first half of play, the Buckeyes almost got on the board early but Caitlyn Martin‘s header off a corner sailed just high seven minutes into the game. Four minutes later, Tiffany Cameron had an opportunity from the right wing but Michigan State goalkeeper Jill Flietstra made the diving save on her shot from 10 yards out.
The best Ohio State chance came in the 21st minute when Lauren Steuer‘sbending shot from the top corner of the box deflected off the top of the crossbar and out of bounds.
For the half, Ohio State outshot the Spartans, 6-3, and held a 6-1 advantage in corner kicks as the game remained scoreless at the intermission.
The Spartans came out of the break strong, recording their best opportunity less than three minutes into the second half when a volley by Olivia Stander hit the crossbar and sailed high.
Michigan State would get on the board in the 57th minute when Lauren Hill controlled a long ball from Cara Freeman at the top of the box then turned and fired a shot past a diving Lauren Robertson to take the 1-0 lead.
The Buckeyes almost knotted up the score in the 71st minute when Karin Sendel nailed a shot from just inside the 18 that deflected of the right post and out of play. With less than ten minutes less to play, Steuer played a corner back post but the header by Ashley Bowyer sailed high.
For the game, the Buckeyes outshot the Spartans, 11-6, and held a 9-1 advantage in corners but were unable to find the back of the net.
The Buckeyes close out the regular season at 14-3-2, 7-2-1 in the Big Ten, and will wait to find out their NCAA tournament fate as postseason play begins Friday, Nov. 13.
