Women’s Soccer Concludes 2002 Season with Tough 1-0 Loss to Cincinnati – Ohio State Buckeyes
11/2/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Nov. 2, 2002
Columbus, Ohio-The Ohio State women’s soccer team (7-10-1, 4-5-1) suffered a 1-0 loss to the University of Cincinnati (13-3-3, 6-1-3) Saturday afternoon at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium. The Buckeyes attacked the Bearcat net relentlessly in the second half, but could not manage a scoring shot as the Cincinnati defense recorded its 10th shutout of the 2002 season.
Cincinnati forward Tianna Oliver netted the only score of the game at the 17:16 mark of play as she fired a shot just over the reach of OSU sophomore goalkeeper Emily Haynam (Westerville, Ohio). Fellow UC forward Amy Simonson advanced the ball through the OSU zone and dumped a pass off to the right side where Oliver blasted the match-winning tally. The goal is Oliver’s fifth on the season.
The Bearcats carried the 1-0 advantage into intermission as they controlled the first half collecting six shots to Ohio State’s two.
The Buckeyes, however, took control of the second half and rallied to threaten the Cincinnati defense, which is among the best in the nation allowing just 0.56 goals per game coming in to today’s contest. Ohio State accumulated 11 totals shots in the second period including six directed at the Bearcat goal.
Ohio State sophomore forward Lisa Grubb led the Buckeye offense with five shot attempts and two shots on goal. Grubb’s best scoring opportunities happened within a span of two minutes as the Portage, Mich. native was stifled by UC keeper Tracy Hale on both chances, one of which was a header from just outside the six-yard box.
Ohio State rallied once again in the waning moments of the match, combining three consecutive corner kicks into two dramatic scoring chances, including a shot by OSU sophomore midfielder Emily Gilbert that Hale was able to get one hand on the ball and deflect it out of play. Ohio State head coach Lori Walker, although displeased with her team’s first half performance, was encouraged by her team’s effort in the second half.
“We came out flat in the first half,” Walker said. “In the second half we came out and played like we know how to play. I don’t feel as if we lost this game, I feel that we just ran out of time.”
Ohio State enters postseason play on Thursday (Nov. 7) opening the Big Ten Tournament as the seventh seed. The Buckeyes await the result of a suspended match between Purdue and Illinois match on Sunday, Nov. 3. Should the Boilermakers defeat the Illini, Ohio State will face Purdue in the opening round of play. If Illinois claims the victory, the Buckeyes will face Michigan.
