Sept. 18, 2011
Minneapolis, Minn. –
The 25th-ranked Ohio State women’s soccer team tied Minnesota 1-1 in double overtime in soggy conditions Sunday afternoon. It was the Big Ten conference opener for both teams.
Minnesota got on the scoreboard first, on a right-footed Shari Eckstrom laser shot from 25 yards away that just found the corner of the goal. The halftime score was 1-0; the Gophers outshot Ohio State 6-3 and led 4-1 in corner kicks in the first period.
The Buckeyes tied the contest in the 52nd minute, when Danica Wu found the net from 23 yards out off a shot that hit the crossbar; the assist was by Danielle Scoliere. OSU keeper Katie Baumgarder thwarted Minnesota’s best chance to reclaim the lead with a huge save, smothering a header by Taylor Uhl in the 79th minute, leaving the score at 1-1 at the end of regulation.
In the first overtime, both squads had scoring opportunities. A shot by Minnesota’s Allie Phillips was deflected by OSU defender Lauren Granberg before Baumgardner made the save. In the final minute of the first extra period, Buckeye Paige Maxwell fired a shot that went left of the goal.
In the second overtime, Ohio State’s best chance came when a Maxwell header was wide right off a corner kick by Liz Sullivan in the 102nd minute. Minnesota finished the match with a 14-13 lead in shots attempted; each team recorded four saves and seven corner kicks.
The 5-3-1 Buckeyes return home Friday to host Illinois in a 7:30 p.m. Big Ten match at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium. Admission is free.
