Buckeyes Host Michigan State Sunday on Senior Day – Ohio State Buckeyes
10/25/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Oct. 25, 2006
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SETTING THE SCENE
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The regular-season wraps up Sunday for the Ohio State men’s soccer team when the Buckeyes host Michigan State at 2 p.m. in Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium. A pregame ceremony will honor Ohio State’s six seniors, who have helped lead the Buckeyes to 35 wins thus far in their careers.
The Buckeyes (8-6-3, 2-2-1 Big Ten) are ranked No. 7 in the NSCAA Great Lakes Region, while the Spartans (9-5-2, 1-2-2 Big Ten) are ranked No. 9. Ohio State’s student radio station will have the match live on its Web site (ohio.fm/sports/) and GameTracker will have live statistics at www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com.
Ohio State could finish anywhere from second to fifth in the final conference standings when play concludes around the league this weekend. That means the Buckeyes will play a Big Ten quarterfinal game next Thursday when the conference championship gets underway in the Jesse, which hosted the event in 2000 when Ohio State claimed its first Big Ten title.
The Buckeyes are 5-1-1 in their last seven games and moved up to No. 7 in the NSCAA Great Lakes Region this week.
“October has been a good month and we are pleased with the direction we’re heading,” Ohio State head coach John Bluem said. “We are about as healthy as we have been in awhile so we are finally settled in on a lineup. The team is playing better and growing in confidence.” Michigan State has won three in a row, including its Senior Day match last Sunday against Northwestern. The Spartans play at Western Michigan Wednesday.
After a 1-0-1 start to the season, Ohio State went 0-3-1 in its next four outings, all on the road against ranked teams. Since then, however, the Buckeyes are 7-3-1 to climb back into postseason contention. With 17 returning letterwinners and eight starters back, OSU was picked third in the Big Ten preseason coaches’ poll and is aiming for its third-consecutive trip to the NCAA tournament.
SIX SENIORS TO BE HONORED
Ohio State’s six seniors will be honored before the game Sunday. Thus far they have guided the Buckeyes to 35 wins and back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances, including a trip to the Sweet 16 in 2004. Seniors include defender Jim Fisher, midfielder Antonio Garcia, defender Dustin Kirby, midfielder Taylor Korpieski, midfielder Brent Rohrer and midfielder Rob Strachan.
OHIO STATE AT A GLANCE
The Buckeyes are 5-1-1 in their last seven games and are coming off a win and a tie on the road last week. Wednesday, Ohio State trailed Oakland 2-0 but came back to win in overtime 3-2 before tying Michigan 0-0 in Ann Arbor Sunday. The Buckeyes are 7-3-1 in their last 11 games and have been shut out only twice during that stretch.
The Buckeyes have outscored their opponents 20-15 this season. Through 17 games, Ohio State also leads the opposition in shots (283-202), shots on goal (102-84) and corner kicks (83-68). In the Big Ten, the Buckeyes lead the Big Ten in shots per game (16.17)
Junior forward Xavier Balc leads the Big Ten in points with 19 and shots with 60. His six goals are third in the league and his seven assists rank second. Balc’s 19 career assists are already a school record.
After Balc on the stat sheet, sophomore midfielder Danny Irizarry is next with six points (2 g., 2 a.), followed by four Buckeyes with four points. Junior goalkeeper Casey Latchem allows less than a goal per game with a 0.85 goals allowed average. He leads the Big Ten in saves (68) and his eight shutouts are tied for most and are third-most in a season in OSU history.
The Buckeyes return 10 of their Top 12 scorers from last season and have three All-Big Ten selections back, including defenders Dustin Kirby and midfielders Brent Rohrer and Taylor Korpieski. Graduates departed from last season include leading scorer Kevin Nugent (20 points) and MLS third-round draft picks Kyle Veris (def.) and Ray Burse Jr. (GK).
The Buckeyes were 11-8-2 overall last year, finished second in the Big Ten regular-season standings (3-2-1) and made their second-consecutive trip to the NCAA tournament, falling at No. 18 Santa Clara, 1-0. OSU has gone to the NCAA tournament four of the last six seasons, won a Big Ten title (2000) and a league regular-season co-championship (2004) and has produced six MLS draft picks.
OSU COMING OFF WIN, TIE LAST WEEK
Ohio State traveled north twice last week and played two overtime games, winning 3-2 at Oakland Wednesday and tying Michigan 0-0 Sunday.
In the win at Oakland, Ohio State came back from a 2-0 deficit to win for the first time since Oct. 28, 2001 at No. 5 St. John’s in double-overtime. Senior defender and co-captain Jim Fisher scored his first collegiate goal, the game-winner six minutes into overtime. The assist on Fisher’s goal came from sophomore Tim Gabel for his first career point.
Sunday, the Buckeyes outshot Michigan 19-12, including 11-3 in the second half, but were unable to get a goal in a 110-minute scoreless affair in Ann Arbor. Junior goalkeeper Casey Latchem notched his eighth shutout of the season, moving past OSU assistant coach Jon Lowery for third-place on the Buckeyes’ single-season shutout list.
A LOOK AT MICHIGAN STATE
Michigan State (9-5-2, 1-2-2 Big Ten) has won three straight and plays at Western Michigan Wednesday. MSU is coming off its first Big Ten win of the season, a 2-1 result in overtime over Northwestern Sunday. The Spartans are ranked No. 9 in the NSCAA Great Lakes Region, two spots behind Ohio State at No. 7. Senior goalkeeper Jason Tillman owns 19 career shutouts and has fashioned a 0.67 goals allowed average this season. Senior stopper Greg Janicki scored the first two goals of his career last week and is the reigning Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week. Junior Kenzo Webster leads the Spartans with seven goals, which are tied for most in the Big Ten. Head coach Joe Baum is in his 30th season in East Lansing and owns a 295-215-48 overall record to go along with a Big Ten title in 2004 and NCAA tournament appearances in 2001 and 2004. He was in goal for Michigan State’s two NCAA co-championships in 1967 and 1968.
OSU-MSU ALL-TIME SERIES NOTES
Since 1996, Michigan State holds a slight lead in this series, 6-5-2. Overall, the Spartans lead 21-10-2. The Buckeyes are 3-0-1 against Michigan State in the last four meetings between these two teams in Columbus and have outscored the Spartans 11-1 in those games. MSU won 2-0 in East Lansing last season.
OSU ON THE STAT SHEET VS. MSU
Among current Buckeyes, only Xavier Balc has a career point against Michigan State, that being an assist in Ohio State’s 2-0 win in Columbus in 2004.
BUCKEYES-SPARTANS CONNECTIONS
Ohio State jr. GK Casey Latchem was a teammate in club soccer and on the Region II ODP team with MSU jr. F Kenzo Webster and so. D David Hertel. OSU jr. D Eric Brunner and jr. M Kyle Retzlaff also played on the Region II ODP team with Webster and Hertel. OSU so. D Tim Gabel is from Wildwood, Mo., about 11 miles from the Chesterfield, Mo., the hometown of MSU sr. M Matt Kreikemeier. Six Spartans are from Illinois, as is OSU fr. F Andrew Magill (Oak Brook).
FIVE BUCKEYES NOMINATED
Five Buckeyes have been nominated for the Academic All-America team as selected by CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America) and sponsored by ESPN The Magazine. Nominees must be a sophomore or older and carry a minimum 3.2 grade point average. Ohio State’s nominees include seniors Jim Fisher (finance) and Dustin Kirby (actuarial science), junior Casey Latchem (Communication) and sophomores Tim Gabel (International Business) and Geoff Marsh (Finance). An Academic All-District team will be announced Nov. 2, with first-team honorees moving onto the national ballot.
BALC BUILDS ON HIS ASSISTS RECORD
Junior forward Xavier Balc collected his school-record 18th career assist Oct. 8 in Ohio State’s 2-0 win over No. 22 Wisconsin and added his 19th assist Oct. 11 in the 1-0 win over Louisville. Balc moves past former record holders Justin Cook (2000-04), Brooks Humphreys (1997-2000) and Bill Clegg (1982-85).
Balc ranks seventh in career points at Ohio State with 47 from 14 goals and 19 assists. He ranks fourth in career shots (155). Dating back to the middle of last season, Balc has scored or assisted on 21 of Ohio State’s last 27 goals. See page 54-55 in the media guide for complete records.
KIRBY EARNS NATIONAL HONORS AGAIN
Ohio State senior co-captain Dustin Kirby was named to the College Soccer News National Team of the Week Oct. 9 for the second time this season. From his central defensive spot he scored the game-winning goal Oct. 8 to beat No. 22 Wisconsin and helped the OSU defense notch the shutout. Kirby received the same honor Aug. 28 after leading the Buckeyes to a 1-0-1 weekend and earning MVP honors of the Bert and Iris Wolstein Classic. He was a second-team All-Big Ten pick last year and is a four-year starter.
BLUEM IN 10TH SEASON AT OSU
Head coach John Bluem has guided the Buckeyes to 10 or more wins in seven of his nine seasons at OSU and to all four of the program’s NCAA tournament appearances. His 2004 squad topped No. 11 Memphis and No. 9 Notre Dame in the postseason to advance to the `Sweet 16.’ Bluem owns a record of 98-76-23 (.559) at Ohio State. His win total and win percentage are school records. Overall, his career record stands at 184-103-35 (.626), which includes six seasons at Fresno State.
BUCKEYES AT JESSE OWENS
Ohio State owns a 42-18-10 (.675) record in Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium since the facility opened for the 1999 season. The Buckeyes host the 2006 Big Ten Championship there Nov. 2-5. OSU was 4-3-1 at JOMS last season. OSU’s best season at JOMS was in 2002 with a 7-1-1 record and facility-best six-game winning streak. The Buckeyes have set two stadium attendance records this season, one for a men’s and women’s soccer doubleheader (2,307) and the other for a single-session men’s soccer game (1,363).
OSU PICKED THIRD IN BIG TEN POLL
Coming off back-to-back seasons when Ohio State finished tied for first in the Big Ten (2004) and second (2005), OSU was picked third in the 2006 Big Ten preseason coaches’ poll. Seven-time national champion Indiana was selected first, while defending Big Ten champ Penn State was second. The seven teams, in order, include: 1. Indiana, 2. Penn State, 3. Ohio State, 4. Wisconsin, 5. Michigan State, 6. Michigan, 7. Northwestern.
Noting the Buckeyes…
#3 Xavier Balc, jr., Fwd. (6 g., 7 a.): Responsible for 21 of OSU’s last 27 goals dating back to middle of 2005 … already owns the OSU career assists record (19) … leads Big Ten in points (19) and shots (60) … has started all 17 games … team leader and Big Ten co-leader in goals (6) and assists (7) … Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week 10/2 (assisted on all 3 OSU goals that week) … had 8-game point streak snapped vs. Indiana 10/14 … 3 game-winning goals this season, 5 in career … game-winners in 2006 vs. Butler 9/22, BGSU 9/14 and Furman 8/27 … has started all 15 games … OSU Wolstein Classic all-tournament team Aug. 27 … Career highlights: perhaps OSU’s most talented athlete … owns 14 career goals and 19 assists … has played MID and FWD … OSU’s go-to player for PKs and corner kicks in part because of great left foot … led team in assists last season with 8, which tied for 2nd-most in a single-season at OSU … responsible for OSU’s final 8 goals of 2005, either by goal, assist or free kick resulting in an own goal … 4 of his goals came in Big Ten play, which tied for most in Big Ten … had at least one point in 9 games last season and OSU went 8-0-1 in those games.
#23 Eric Brunner, jr., Def. (2 g., 1 a.): Scored OSU’s first goal in comeback win at Oakland 10/18 (header off Korpieski corner) … scored second career game-winner 10/11 vs. Louisville (header off Balc corner) … has started all 17 games and played 1548 min. (of possible 1589) … comes forward in attack (31 shots 3rd on team) … named to All-Tournament Team of all 3 early-season tournaments (OSU Wolstein Classic 8/27, Carolina Nike Classic 9/3 and Penn State Nike Classic 9/10) … assisted on Tim Gabel’s goal vs. Furman 8/27 … assisted on game-winning goal by Ryan Kustos in exh. vs. Bradley … Career highlights: started all 21 games last season (2g., 2a.) … one of OSU’s most talented players … in his 2nd year as a starter in 2006 … played as fr. at Maryland, helped Terrapins to College Cup … transferred home to OSU during winter of fr. year, competed in 2005 spring season … tall, powerful defender, comes forward to get involved in attack.
#19 Eric Edwards, jr., Fwd. (0 g., 0 a.): 312 min., 8 shots … has started 3 games at FWD and played in 11 … took 8 shots in exh. vs. Dayton (2 on goal) … Career highlights: Spent fr. year at DEF, moved to FWD as a so., where he spent his prep career … scored OSU’s goal in 1-1 tie against Columbus Crew last April … strong, tough competitor who has a great work ethic.
#25 Jim Fisher, 5th-sr., Def. (1 g., 0 a.): co-captain … scored 1st collegiate goal 10/18, game-winner in OT at Oakland … has started all 17 games, played 1506 min. (of a possible 1589) … 9 shots … Career highlights: has started 53 consecutive games at right back, including last 15 games 2004 and all 21 games of 2005 … 3 career assists, including 2 last season (vs. Coastal Car., at Wisc.) … key ingredient in OSU’s 2004 defense that allowed only 2 goals in Big Ten play … 2 of his 3 career assists set up first goal of a hat trick (Justin Cook at Penn St. in 2004, Xavier Balc vs. Coastal Car. in 2005).
#18 Tim Gabel, so., Def. (2 g., 1 a.): 2 goals on just 15 shots this season … assisted on Jim Fisher’s game-winner in OT at Oakland 10/18 … scored game-winner at Penn State 10/1 … missed 2 games because of injury this season but has started the other 15 … 1278 min. … scored OSU’s 2nd goal in 2-0 win vs. Furman 8/27 (his 1st collegiate goal, header off Balc corner kick) … missed BU game 9/8 and BGSU game 9/14 with injury … Career highlights: solid contributor in 2005 before an injury cut fr. season short … great size, soccer resume … won national club championship with Scott Gallagher … tall, physical, good in the air.
#13 Antonio Garcia, sr., Mid. (0 g., 0 a.): Has started twice, including season opener vs. Furman (42 min.) and 9/22 vs. Wis.-Green Bay (56 min.) … has played in 5 games, 122 min. … missed several games because of injury … scored OSU’s 2nd goal (unassisted) in exh. vs. Bradley … Career highlights: singled out by Coach Bluem as having most soccer savvy/experience on team … adds spark to OSU midfield … played in all 21 games last season, made 6 starts … fearless, aggressive player, both with the ball or in defensive situations … calm on the ball, has great control, even in traffic.
#8 Danny Irizarry, so., Mid. (2 g., 2 a.): Team’s 2nd-leading scorer (6 pts.) … has played in all 17 games, started 13 … 1189 min. … scored equalizer in OSU’s comeback win at Oakland 10/18 … assists at Penn St. 10/1 and vs. Wis. 10/8 (Kirby game-winner) … converted PK vs. BGSU 9/14. … 26 shots, including career-high 5 at Butler 9/20 … missed 2 exh. matches because of injury … Career highlights: scored 2 goals and had 4 assists as fr. … named to 2005 Big Ten All-Freshman Team … one of OSU’s best offensive playmakers in MID but also a defensive force, tenacious tackler … played his way into starting lineup permanently as fr. … played in 19 games and made 13 starts as fr., including final 8 matches.
#7 Dustin Kirby, sr., Def. (1 g., 0 a.): co-captain … scored game-winner vs. Wis. 10/8 (1st collegiate goal) … has started all 17 games and played all 1589 min. … twice this season has been named to the College Soccer News National Team of the Week (8/28, 10/9) … OSU’s central defender and possible defensive MVP … 7 shots … Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week 8/28 … MVP of OSU’s Wolstein Classic 8/25-27 … Career highlights: 2005 2nd-team All-Big Ten … started every game but 1 since his arrival at OSU (77) … holds things together in the back for OSU … rarely comes off field (6,813 minutes played out of 7,129 possible in career).
#10 Taylor Korpieski, sr., Mid. (1 g., 3 a.): Assisted on OSU’s first goal in comeback win at Oakland 10/18 … scored game-winner vs. No. 21 Akron 9/26 … has started 14 matches (all but 3) and totaled 1193 min. … 25 shots … missed Wis.-Green Bay game 9/22 because of yellow card accumulation … assisted on Doug Verhoff’s goal vs. Wake Forest 9/3 … Career highlights: 2nd-team All-Big Ten as soph. with 4 goals, 8 assists (2nd-most in a season at OSU) … 10 career assists rank 7th all-time at OSU … hampered by injuries as jr. … OSU’s best playmaker in the midfield (wears No. 10 for a reason), controls tempo of the game … OSU’s leading scorer as fr. in 2003.
#17 Ryan Kustos, jr., Mid. (2 g., 1 a.): Twice has scored OSU’s second goal in 2-0 wins (vs. Wis. 10/8, at Butler 9/20) … assisted on Xavier Balc’s game-winner vs. BGSU 9/14 … has played in all 17 games, started 11, including last 8 in a row … 1012 min. … 32 shots 2nd on team … came off bench to score game-winner in exh. vs. Bradley 8/18 … Career highlights: speed, quickness, power – combination has put him into the OSU lineup at both FWD, MID … has played in 57 games as a Buckeye and made 29 starts … 8 goals, 6 assists in career … played in all 21 games last season, 15 starts.
#1 Casey Latchem, jr., GK (0.85 GAA, 56 Saves, 13 GA, 1383 min.): see career capsule, pg. 6 … 2nd in Big Ten in shutouts (8) and first in saves (61) … career-high 10 saves in Furman win 8/27 … has played all 1588:30 min. … 8 shutouts are 3rd-most in OSU single-season history … OSU Wolstein Classic all-tournament team … Career highlights: understudy to MLS draftee Ray Burse Jr. last 2 years … smart, good distributor … started 7 games as fr. in 2004, 4 against nationally ranked opp. … 1.12 GAA as so. and 1.64 GAA as fr.
#14 Andrew Magill, fr., Fwd. (0 g., 1 a.): Assisted on Xavier Balc’s goal vs. Wake Forest 9/3 … has started 5 games, played in 16 of 17 overall … 621 min., 18 shots … scored in exh. vs. Dayton … Career highlights: scored 61 goals in prep career, including 34 as senior … added 33 career assists, 16 as senior … all-state and All-Midwest.
#11 Scott Marguglio, so., Def. (0 g., 0 a.): 0 min. thus far … Career highlights: left-footed, athletic … ability to serve the ball accurately, good defensive ability … 7 games as fr. in a back-up role … assisted on Geoff Marsh’s goal to give OSU a 3-0 lead at Louisville 10/12/06.
#9 Geoff Marsh, so., Mid. (1 g., 0 a.): assisted on equalizer in comeback win at Oakland Wed. … scored equalizer in 2-1 win at Penn St. 10/1 … has started 16 of 17 games at right MID … 1248 min. … missed BGSU game 9/14 because of injury … 12 shots … Penn St. Nike Classic All-Tournament Team … Career highlights: a bright spot in OSU’s 2005 fr. class … shared 2006 Most Improved Player Award with Danny Irizarry … only fr. to play in all 21 games … 4th on team in scoring (2 goals and 2 assists).
#24 Byron Neal, r-fr., GK: Back-up keeper … 0 min. thus far … Career highlights: played at Wisconsin last year, transferred to OSU for spring practice … 4 years of eligibility remaining.
#16 Kyle Retzlaff, jr., Mid. (0 g., 0 a.): 3 games, 36 min. … 23 min. vs. Wis. 10/1 … 8 min. at Penn State 10/1 … 5 min. vs. Wake Forest 9/3 … Career highlights: gets up and down the field well, has good quickness … aggressive and plays with a high motor … has a good left foot.
#4 Patrick Roan, so., Def. (0 g., 0 a.): 13 min. vs. Wake Forest 9/3 … Career highlights: played in 3 games as FR … played in 2 H.S. state title games … strong, athletic and versatile and could play in defense or in midfield.
#5 Brent Rohrer, sr., Mid. (0 g., 1 a.): Missed 3 games recently with leg injury, returned 10/11 vs. Louisville … OSU’s defensive MID … assisted on Steven Traeger’s goal vs. #13 San Francisco 9/10 … has played in 14 games and made 9 starts … 717 min. … Career highlights: 2nd-team All-Big Ten as jr. … has played in all but four games for OSU since his arrival (74) … 4-year starter … started at both DEF and MID during his career, but has settled into central MID … OSU’s best marker of an opponent … owns 2 goals and 5 assists in his career.
#6 Rob Strachan, sr., Mid. (0 g., 0 a.): Has played in 15 games, made 8 starts, including the last 7 in a row … 906 min. … has started last 7 games at center MID … 7 shots … returned to field vs. Furman 8/27 after missing end of last season and beginning of 2006 with leg injury … started at LB vs. BGSU 9/14 … Career highlights: if not in starting lineup, is one of 1st players off bench … played in 1st 14 games of 2005 (10 starts) before sidelined by a leg injury, required surgery … started 1st 3 games at DEF before moving into MID.
#20 Steven Traeger, jr., Mid. (1 g., 0 a.): scored vs. #13 San Francisco 9/10, first goal as Buckeye, equalizer in 1-1 tie … 7 games, 142 min. … season-high 54 min. at NU 9/17 … 13 min. vs. Wis. 10/8 … 17 min. vs. Wake Forest 9/3 … Career highlights: played 2 seasons at UNC-Charlotte, transfers to OSU with 2 years of eligibility remaining … played in 37 games, totaled 5 goals, 2 assists for UNCC … 4th member of family to play for OSU, including 2 brothers and a sister.
#15 Doug Verhoff, fr., Def. (1 g., 0 a.): has played in 15 of 17 games, made 6 starts … 868 min. … 23 shots (6th on team) … has started at MID and DEF … scored in 1st min. vs. Wake Forest 9/3 … named to Carolina Nike Classic All-Tournament Team … Career highlights: scored 55 goals and had 29 assists in prep career … 1st-team All-Central Catholic League all 4 years … started every game in H.S. except 2 (senior nights FR and SOPH years) … Central District POY as SR, 1st-team All-Ohio.
#2 Kyle West, fr., Def. (0 g., 0 a.): 127 min. in 7 games thus far … 30 min. vs. Wis. 10/8 … started at MID in exh. vs. Dayton (54 min.) … 48 min. in exh. vs. Bradley … Career highlights: composed, passes ball well, strong ball winner … led club team to state cup championships in 2003-04-05 … member of Nebraska ODP from 2002-05 … made Region II ODP squad in 2005.
### GO BUCKS! ###
