Buckeyes Open Home Slate with 3-0 Win over Buffalo

Aug. 26, 2017

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State women’s soccer team opened its home schedule with a 3-0 victory over Buffalo Saturday night at Bert L. & Iris S. Wolstein Field at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium. With the win, the Buckeyes improve to 2-0-1 on the season while the Bulls fall to 0-2-0.

“We came out a little lethargic but we started to be able to connect passes and the game opened up for us,” Lori Walker-Hock, Ohio State head coach, said. “It was a good win for us and it’s good to be back home after starting on the road. We’re looking forward to having the next six in our stadium.”

GABRIEL GETS THE BUCKEYES ON THE BOARD EARLY
In the 10th minute, Arden Holden slotted a through ball down the middle to Morgan Wolcott, who crossed to a wide-open Eleanor Gabriel for the finish from eight yards in the center of the box. The goal was the first-career score for the Louisville, Ky., native.

LOWE MAKES AN IMPACT OFF THE BENCH
After starting the first two matches of the season, Maddy Lowe came off the bench to provide a spark for the Buckeyes in the first half. The Webster, N.Y., native came on in the 24th minute and forced a diving save by Buffalo goalkeeper Laura Dougall on a left-footed strike from 12 yards less than two minutes into her time on the pitch. Three minutes later, she tracked down a long ball but her shot from the near right wing narrowly missed wide right and, later in the half, she played the cross to Sammy Edwards at the center of the box but the volley from the Buckeye senior was right into the arms of Dougall as Ohio State took a 1-0 lead into the half.

GABRIEL FROM DISTANCE FOR THE BRACE
After a Riley Bowers corner led to a pair of chances in the 52nd minute, Gabriel made a 2-0 game in the 53rd. Edwards squared a cross from the right wing to Gabriel just outside the top of the box and the senior hit a low strike from 20 yards off the arm of a diving Dougall inside the left post to make it a two-goal game.

BAUMBICK’S FIRST-CAREER GOAL PUSHES LEAD TO 3-0
Two minutes later, a Bowers corner was flicked on by Holden and fell to Alyssa Baumbick at the far right post and the Florida transfer playing in her first game as a Buckeye finished from inside the six-yard box for a 3-0 advantage.

EDWARDS, BOWERS ALMOST ADD TO THE LEAD
In the 63rd minute, a Gabriel cross from the right wing found Edwards at the center of the box but her shot from 12 yards destined for the right corner was deflected wide by Dougall. A minute later, Bowers possessed on the right wing, cut it back and fired a left-footed shot from 20 yards toward the upper right corner that Dougall flicked over the crossbar.

BIRZON HITS LEFT POST
In the 77th minute, Lowe played a through ball down the middle where Marissa Birzon flicked her shot past Dougall but it deflected off the left post and was cleared away.

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
Shots: Ohio State 26, Buffalo 5
Saves: Buffalo 12, Ohio State 2
Shots on Goal: Ohio State 15, Buffalo 2
Corner Kicks: Ohio State 11, Buffalo 3

QUOTABLE
“This was a good win for us as a team. We had a bunch of people step up tonight and I think we’re moving in the right direction. We had a lot of younger players gain valuable minutes, rotate a lot of players in and out and we picked up a good win.” – Eleanor Gabriel, Ohio State senior forward

BUCKEYE BITS
– Ohio State goalkeeper Devon Kerr earned her fourth-career shutout and second in a row.
– After allowing just one shot on frame at No. 8 BYU Monday, the Buckeyes allowed only two against the Bulls.
– The match was the first in a Buckeye uniform for Florida transfer Alyssa Baumbick.
– The 26 shots for the Buckeyes were the most since they recorded 20 at Purdue Oct. 9 of last season.

UP NEXT
The Buckeyes host Western Michigan at 5 p.m. Friday.

Match: Buffalo at Ohio State
Date: Aug. 26, 2017
Venue: Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium – Columbus, Ohio
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Attendance: 874
Weather: Mostly sunny and 72 degrees