Buckeyes Drop 2-1 Decision to No. 9 Rutgers

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COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State freshman Kailyn Dudukovich notched her team-leading sixth goal of the season but No. 9 Rutgers responded with a pair of goals at the end of the first half and held on for a 2-1 victory Sunday afternoon at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium.

The Buckeyes are now 7-5-1 on the year and 2-2-1 in Big Ten play. Rutgers remains atop the Big Ten table at 4-0-0 and 9-2-0 on the season.

How it Happened

Neither team mounted much offense early until the 13^th minute when Rutgers notched its first shot. On the counter attack, the Buckeyes gained a corner and off that corner, a Kitty Jones Black collected a bouncing ball up top, feed a pass to Kailyn Dudukovich and the freshman hammered home a right-footed shot inside the right post. That put the Buckeyes in front 1-0 in the 14^th minute.

Rutgers pulled even in the 35^th minute as Big Ten scoring leader Frankie Tagliaferri launched a shot from the top of the box the snuck under a diving Bailey Kolinski. Then before the first half whistle, Giana Romano finished a couple of nice passes from Allison Lowrey and Gia Girman to put the Scarlet Knights in front 2-1.

The score stayed that way the rest of the contest. The Buckeye pushed for the equalizer and had a number of opportunities late but couldn’t quite finish.

BUCKEYES GOAL!!

Freshman Kailyn Dudukovich scores her 6th goal of the season and the Buckeyes will play from in front! #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/79tUDXkCY1

— Ohio State WSOC (@OhioStateWSOC) October 3, 2021

Notes

• Kailyn Dudukovich’s goal in the 14^th minute was her team-leading sixth of the season.
• Dudukovich has now had a point in four of the last five matches with four goals and one assist.
• Junior Kitty Jones Black registered her fifth assist on the year

Up Next

The Buckeyes are off in the midweek and will return to action next Sunday on the road at Michigan State.

#GoBucks