20th-ranked Buckeyes Travel to Louisville – Ohio State Buckeyes
10/30/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Final week of regular season sends Ohio State on the road twice; Buckeyes own six-match unbeaten streak (5-0-1); Latchem earns national honor
SETTING THE SCENE
COLUMBUS, Ohio The last week of the regular season has arrived for the Ohio State men’s soccer team and the 20th-ranked Buckeyes must go on the road twice, beginning with a 7 p.m. match Wednesday at Louisville.
The match will be a showdown between two teams with postseason aspirations. Ohio State owns a six-match unbeaten streak (5-0-1) and is 10-3-3 overall.
Louisville is 10-5-1 overall and 5-1-1 in its last seven games. The Buckeyes are ranked fourth in the NSCAA Great Lakes Region, while the Cardinals are ranked seventh.
Ohio State is coming off an emotional 1-0 overtime win on Senior Day over Michigan in the Buckeyes’ final home game. That win gave the Buckeyes’ seven-member senior class 44 wins at Ohio State to tie the all-time wins record for one class.
Ohio State is 2-2-2 on the road this season, while Louisville is 6-1-0 at home.
ONTO MSU SUNDAY, THEN BACK FOR BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIP
The regular season winds up Sunday for the Buckeyes with a 2 p.m. match at 18th-ranked Michigan State (11-2-3, 2-2-1 Big Ten). Ohio State will travel back to East Lansing next week for the Big Ten Championship, which begins Thursday.
At 3-1-1 in the Big Ten, the Buckeyes are currently tied for second in the league standings with Northwestern – both teams have 10 points. The Wildcats have completed their conference slate, however, at 3-2-1, meaning Ohio State can secure the No. 2 seed with a win or tie at Michigan State this Sunday.
LIVE STATS ON THE WEB
Live stats of the match at Louisville Wednesday night will be available at www.UofLsports.com.
SENIORS TIE WINS RECORD
The seven-member Ohio State senior class already owns the best winning percentage by an OSU class (.620) and has tied the program record for wins by a class with 44. The current OSU seniors are 44-25-10 overall during the last four years to eclipse the 2002 senior Buckeyes, who previously held both records with a 44-27-7 record (.609).
Since they arrived in 2004, the 2007 OSU seniors have helped lead the Buckeyes to a Big Ten regular-season co-championship (2004), two trips to the NCAA tournament (2004, 2005) and to Ohio State’s first Sweet 16 appearance (2004).
The senior class includes forward Xavier Balc (Ohio State’s all-time assist leader), defender Eric Brunner (Ohio State’s first MAC Hermann Trophy candidate), goalkeeper Casey Latchem (Top 4 all-time at OSU in shutouts and goals against average), forwards Eric Edwards and Ryan Kustos and midfielders Kyle Retzlaff and Steven Traeger.
LATCHEM EARNS NATIONAL TEAM OF THE WEEK HONOR
Senior goalkeeper Casey Latchem was named to the national team of the week by College Soccer News Monday. He had seven saves Saturday in Ohio State’s 1-0 overtime win over Michigan for his eighth shutout of the season, which is tied for the Big Ten lead. During the Buckeyes’ current six-game unbeaten streak, Latchem has allowed only two goals and notched 30 saves. His 20 career shutouts are second all-time at Ohio State.
Latchem was not selected the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week Monday, but he earned the league’s honor two of the previous three weeks.
WELCOME HOME SAMMY
Ohio State freshman midfielder Sam Scales is from Louisville and prepped at Trinity High School. He has played in 13 of the Buckeyes’ 16 games this season and averages 32 minutes per game.
BUCKEYES IN THE POLLS
Ohio State is ranked as high as No. 20 in the national polls this week, that coming from College Soccer News. The Buckeyes are ranked No. 21 by Soccer Times, No. 22 by Soccer America and No. 23 by the NSCAA.
In the NSCAA/adidas Great Lakes Region, Ohio State checks in at No. 4 behind Indiana, Notre Dame and Northwestern. The Buckeyes have been ranked as high as No. 10 in the nation this season (Sept. 10, Soccer Times).
BLUEM ON THE POSTSEASON
“We know we’re in good shape right now,” Bluem said last week. “We’re aware of the RPI and where we stand and we have gotten some good results. We thought we were in (the NCAA tournament) a year ago and that didn’t happen, so we are not going to assume anything. The guys are very focused and they know that it’s not done yet and that we still have a lot of work to do. We have to prepare for each of these final three regular-season games as though they’re NCAA tournament games and knock-out games. That kind of focus helps you because you need to play with that kind of intensity and concentration. I think the team has a good handle on what’s necessary and they’re ready to play. They’ll be well-prepared for these last three regular-season games.”
OSU AMONG OFFENSIVE LEADERS
Entering this week, Ohio State ranked first in the Big Ten in assists (29, 1.8 per game), shots (17.4 per game) and corner kicks (7.1 per game) and was tied for fourth in goals (25, 1.6 per game).
OHIO STATE AT A GLANCE
The Buckeyes have scored 25 goals this season (1.5 per game) compared to 14 for their opponents (0.8 per game). Of those 25 goals, 16 are through the run of play, five are from corner kicks (3 by Tim Gabel, 2 by Eric Brunner), three are own goals and one is a penalty kick.
Ohio State has out-shot 13 of its 16 opponents and leads that category overall 279-184 (17.4-11.5 per game). The Buckeyes’ shots on goal advantage is 101-69 and their corner kick lead is 113-61.
Twelve Buckeyes have scored a goal and eight players have at least two goals each. Brunner and Gabel lead the way with three goals each.
Senior Xavier Balc leads the Big Ten and ranks second nationally with 11 assists, which is an Ohio State single-season record. Balc’s 32 career assists are already a school record.
Senior goalkeeper Casey Latchem owns a 0.85 goals-against average and eight shutouts in 16 outings this season and has collected 53 saves.
The Buckeyes finished 11-7-3 overall last season and owned a final RPI of No. 28, but were surprisingly not selected for the NCAA tournament. Ohio State dropped a 1-0 decision to Indiana in the Big Ten championship game and was ranked No. 5 in the NSCAA Great Lakes Region. The Buckeyes went 8-2-1 in their last 11 games of the 2006 season, with their only two losses coming to Indiana.
Ohio State outscored its opponents 26-17 in 2006 and led the opposition in shots (351-242), shots on goal (128-93) and corner kicks (97-80).
Last season, Balc led the Big Ten in points (23), assists (9) and shots (75) and tied for the league-lead in goals (7). Latchem led the Big Ten with 10 shutouts last year and posted a 0.79 goals-against average, which was the second-best season in Ohio State history.
BALC NOW OWNS BOTH OSU ASSISTS RECORDS
Senior forward Xavier Balc is already Ohio State’s all-time assist leader with 32 and now he is the single-season record holder, as well, after delivering his 11th helper of the season Saturday in overtime in Ohio State’s 1-0 win over Michigan.
Entering this week, Balc’s 11 assists ranked second in the nation. Earlier this season, Balc notched an OSU record four assists in the Buckeyes’ 6-1 win over Cal State Fullerton, which stand as the most helpers in a game in the nation this season.
In addition to his career assists record, Balc also owns the Ohio State record for career shots (225) and single-season shots (75 in 2006). A first-team All-Big Ten selection last year, he was named to the Top Drawer Soccer national team of the week Sept. 17.
NOTING THE ALL-TIME SERIES
The Buckeyes are 6-4-1 all-time against Louisville. Ohio State is 4-0-1 against the Cardinals when playing in Columbus, but the Buckeyes are 2-4-0 at Louisville. Since 1994, the series is deadlocked Ohio State is 4-4-1.
SCOUTING THE CARDINALS
Louisville has been in and out of the national polls this season and is now 10-5-1 overall, with a 6-3-1 record in the Big East Conference. Those records are already an impressive turn around from last year, when the Cardinals went 5-10-3 overall. Nine starters are back from that team for second-year head coach Ken Lolla, who spent the previous 13 seasons leading a nationally prominent Akron program.
The Cardinals are 5-1-1 in their last seven games and are coming off a 3-1 win against Rutgers Sunday. Louisville is 6-1-0 at home this season and will celebrate Senior Night Wednesday.
The Cardinals are led by three double-digit point leaders, including Marco Terminesi (six goals, two assists), Aaron Clapham (five goals, three assists) and Gerardo Chavez (three goals, six assists).
LAST YEAR: OSU BEATS UL 1-0
Last year in Columbus, the Buckeyes got a goal from Eric Brunner in the 66th minute and nine minutes later the skies opened for a rain and lightning storm that ended the match with 15:40 still on the clock. Brunner’s goal was on a header from 5 yards out and came off a corner kick by Xavier Balc. The box scores from that match is located in the stats pack.
BUCKEYES WITH POINTS AGAINST UL
In addition to the goal by Eric Brunner and assist by Xavier Balc (see previous note), current Buckeyes with points against Louisville include juniors Danny Irizarry and Geoff Marsh, both of whom scored in Ohio State’s 3-1 win at Louisville in 2005. Sophomores Scott Marguglio and Andrew Magill both had an assist in that game.
OTHER BUCKEYES-CARDINALS CONNECTIONS
While Ohio State’s Sam Scales is from Louisville (see previous note), five U of L players are from Ohio, including Central Ohio native J.T. Murray (Grove City), who is a freshman midfielder for the Cardinals. Murray played club soccer with OSU freshmen midfielders Konrad Warzycha (Dublin Jerome) and Nick Galiardi (Gahanna Lincoln). OSU freshman goalkeeper Ryan Dalton was a high teammate of UL sophomore forward Bryan Kanu. Dalton also played club soccer with UL freshman midfielder Austin Berry (Cincinnati Country Day).
PARLEZ-VOUS FRANCAIS?
Ohio State freshman forward Nowa Thiam lived in Paris for several years and speaks in French with family and some friends. Wednesday night, however, he could speak French with Louisville junior midfielder Gerard Votier, who is from Paris.
BUCKEYES ARE No. 13 IN FIRST RPI
The first national Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) was released by the NCAA Oct. 15 and the Buckeyes checked in at No. 13, which ranked third in the Big Ten behind No. 2 Northwestern and No. 8 Indiana.
Ohio State’s last four regular-season games will all be against teams in the Top 41 of the RPI, including Indiana (tied 0-0), No. 41 Michigan (won 1-0), at No. 33 Louisville (Oct. 31) and at No. 31 Michigan State (Nov. 3).
So far this season, the Buckeyes are 7-3-2 against the RPI Top 100, including wins over No. 23 West Virginia, No. 25 Wisconsin, No. 40 Old Dominion, No. 55 Penn State, No. 64 William and Mary, No. 80 Cal State Fullerton and No. 98 Oakland. The losses have come to No. 2 Northwestern, No. 29 UCLA and No. 50 Wisconsin-Green Bay. The tie was at No. 22 Akron.
ERIC BRUNNER – HERMANN CANDIDATE UPDATE
Senior defender Eric Brunner was named to the Missouri Athletic Club’s Hermann Trophy preseason watch list Aug. 8. He owns three goals this season – all of which were game-winners. Brunner earned a spot on the Top Drawer Soccer National Team of the Week Sept. 10 after being named the MVP of the Penn State Nike Classic Sept. 9.
Brunner was named the Big Ten defensive player of the week Sept. 3 as the Buckeyes posted two shutouts and won the title of the Ohio State Wolstein Classic (beat No. 13 West Virginia, tied Syracuse).
A 6-foot-4-inch central defender, Brunner was a 2006 first-team All-Big Ten selection and is the first Buckeye to appear on a watch list for the trophy given annually to the player of the year in NCAA Div. I soccer. He was named a preseason third-team All-American by College Soccer News.
BUCKEYES IN THE BIG TEN STATS
Ohio State leads the Big Ten in assists (29, 1.8 per game), shots (279, 17.4 per game) and corner kicks (113, 7.1 per game). The Buckeyes are tied for fourth in goals scored (25, 1.6) and are tied for second in shutouts (8).
Individually, Xavier Balc leads the Big Ten in assists (11, .7 per game) and ranks second in shots (51, 3.2 per game). Juniors Geoff Marsh and Tim Gabel are tied for 10th in assists (4). Senior Eric Brunner is tied for third in game-winning goals (3). Senior Casey Latchem is ranked fourth in goals against average (0.85) and is tied for first in shutouts (8).
ANOTHER TOUGH SCHEDULE
Ohio State’s 10-3-3 record this season has come against quality opponents that are a combined 127-92-42 (.567). The Buckeyes’ three losses are to teams with a combined record of 25-10-8 (UCLA, Northwestern, Wisconsin-Green Bay).
The results include wins over then-13th-ranked West Virginia (now No. 20, 10-5-1) and then-No. 25 Old Dominion (now 10-5-1) and ties at now-No. 22 Akron (11-3-2) and at now-No. 10 Indiana (11-4-2).
Although results from exhibition matches do not factor into a team’s record, note that Ohio State played to a 2-2 tie at now-No. 8 Creighton (9-1-4).
IN THE RECORD BOOK
Senior Xavier Balc is Ohio State’s all-time leader in career assists (32) and shots (225). He is tied for eighth all-time in goals (17) and ranks fourth in points (66). Balc’s 11 assists this season are an Ohio State single-season record. In 2006, he set an OSU record for shots in a season with 75 and had nine assists.
Goalkeeper Casey Latchem collected 10 shutouts in 2006, which were one shy of the single-season record. His 0.94 career goals against average is fourth all-time and his 20 career shutouts are second all-time. The record of 23.5 career shutouts is held by Kerry Thompson (1997-2001).
BLUEM IN 11TH SEASON AT OSU
Eleventh-year head coach John Bluem has guided the Buckeyes to two Big Ten titles this decade and all four of the program’s NCAA tournament appearances (2000, 2001, 2004, 2005). 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 111-80-26 (.569) at Ohio State. His win total and win percentage are school records. Overall, his career record stands at 197-107-37 (.630), which includes six seasons at Fresno State.
NOMINATIONS FOR FIVE BUCKEYES
Five Buckeyes were nominated Oct. 16 for the Academic All-America Team selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America. Sophomore Doug Verhoff’s grade point average over 3.6 in microbiology leads the group, which includes junior Tim Gabel, senior Casey Latchem, junior Geoff Marsh and junior Patrick Roan.
To be nominated, a student-athlete must be a starter or have played in most of the games and must be at least a sophomore with a GPA over 3.20. An all-district team will be announced Nov. 1, with first-team selections being placed on the national ballot.
OSU 3RD IN PRESEASON POLL
The Big Ten preseason coaches’ poll was released Aug. 17 and the Buckeyes checked in at No. 3 below Indiana and Northwestern. It marked the fifth-consecutive season the Hoosiers were picked to win the league after winning their 11th conference title last year with a 1-0 win over Ohio State in the Big Ten championship game.
AWARD WINNERS RETURN
Ohio State had three first-team All-Big Ten selections in 2006 and two are back this season. Defender Eric Brunner, who is on the MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List, and Xavier Balc, who is already the school’s all-time assists leader, return in 2007.
Senior goalkeeper Casey Latchem and junior midfielder Geoff Marsh were both selected to the Big Ten All-Tournament team last year. Two current Buckeyes were named to the Big Ten All-Freshmen Team in their careers – Balc and junior Danny Irizarry.
BUCKEYES OWN .685 WIN PCT. IN JOMS
The Buckeyes are 50-20-11 (.685) in Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium since the facility opened in 1999. Ohio State won eight games (8-3-1) in the Jesse in 2006, the most in a single season. Ohio State’s best winning percentage at JOMS was in 2002 with a 7-1-1 record (.833), which included a facility-best six-game winning streak.
The Buckeyes set two stadium attendance records in 2006, one for a men’s and women’s soccer doubleheader (2,307 vs. Louisville Oct. 11) and the other for a single-session men’s soccer game (1,363 vs. Indiana Oct. 14).
BUCKEYES IN THE MLS
Seven Buckeyes have been Major League Soccer draft picks since 2003, which is the second-highest total among Big Ten schools behind only Indiana. Last January in the supplemental draft, defender Dustin Kirby was selected by Real Salt Lake. In the 2006 SuperDraft third round, defender Kyle Veris was taken at No. 25 overall by the L.A. Galaxy and goalkeeper Ray Burse Jr. was selected at No. 30 by F.C. Dallas and was the first goalkeeper picked.
In the 2003 draft, forward Andy Rosenband and defender Jake Traeger (brother of current Buckeye Steven Traeger) were taken in the seventh round, while in 2005 forward Justin Cook and midfielder Sammy Tamporello were taken in the supplemental draft.
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Contact: Tim Stried, stried.3@osu.edu
