Men’s Soccer: A Look Back at the College Cup – Ohio State Buckeyes
12/20/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Note: Photo album updated Dec. 21 at 10:41 a.m.
Buckeyes wrap up best season in school history with national runner-up trophy
COLUMBUS, Ohio The Buckeyes are back from the College Cup and it was a trip that none of them will ever forget.
For most young soccer athletes, playing on national television in front of more than 8,000 fans is something they only dream about. For the 27 members of the Ohio State men’s soccer team, it was reality.
Reaching the NCAA College Cup is an accomplishment Ohio State fans will be talking about for a long time. Even before they got there, the Buckeyes had turned in the best season in OSU men’s soccer history.
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The national media descended on SAS Soccer Park in Cary, N.C., for the College Cup. For many of them, it was their first glimpse of the Ohio State men’s soccer program and they liked what they saw.
To check out coverage of the Buckeyes at the College Cup, visit www.ESPN.com and click on the ESPNU tab. From there, click on College Sports and look to the right side of the page for complete video highlights from the College Cup. Also, go online to Big Ten Network, Soccer America, Soccer Times and College Soccer News for more coverage from the College Cup.
IT’S ALL ABOUT THE LITTLE THINGS
When the Buckeyes think back on the College Cup, the two games they played will probably be what they remember most. But they will also remember many of the little things that made the week so special. Here is a look at a few possibilities…
1. The loud send-off they received at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center Dec. 13 before they departed for the airport.
2. The group of fans waiting for them at the hotel in Raleigh when they arrived Dec. 13. They also had a car parked close by that was playing Ohio State songs.
3. Walking on the field for the first time and seeing the College Cup and Ohio State logos painted on the field.
4. The College Cup banquet, especially the ride to and from the hotel in two stretch Hummer limousines. John Bluem and Xavier Balc spoke to the audience along with the coach and a player from the other four teams and the end of the highlight film was of Steven Traeger’s dance after the win over Bradley.
5. Putting the College Cup logo patches on their jerseys Friday before the game against UMass.
6. Gathering at the hotel Friday night after the win over UMass and watching highlights of the game on ESPN SportsCenter, including Eric Edwards’ goal, which was No. 4 on the Top 10 plays of the day (see later note).
7. The team meeting in the hotel Saturday night. It was the calm before the storm.
8. Watching their win over UMass again on ESPN2 Saturday night on tape delay.
9. Listening to Ohio State athletics director Gene Smith in the locker room Sunday before the championship game.
10. Being welcomed back home at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center Sunday night when they returned to campus.
DEACONS SHOCKED BY ESPINOZA’S GOAL
If Wake Forest was not taken by surprise that Ohio State had the first six shots in the championship game Sunday, the Demon Deacons and most of the 8,172 fans as SAS Soccer Park were certainly shocked when OSU junior Roger Espinoza sent a shot through the legs of a defender and into the back of the net to put the Buckeyes up, 1-0, in the 13th minute. It marked only the sixth time all season Wake Forest had been behind in a game.
EDWARDS DOTS THE “i”
Though not many fans or even the ESPN crew knew exactly what he was doing at the time, they realized later that when senior Eric Edwards scored in the 53rd minute against Wake Forest, when he ran over to where OHIO STATE’ was painted on the field and bowed low, he was in fact “doting the i” just like the Ohio State marching band in its famous Script Ohio. Edwards took off an imaginary beret off his head and swooped it low, then stood back up and saluted the crowd. That play, and Edwards’ celebration, was No. 4 on ESPN SportsCenter’s Top 10 plays of the day that night.
IT WAS A COLD AND WINDY DAY
After playing in cold and rain for their third-round and quarterfinal NCAA tournament games, the Buckeyes were greeted with 70 degree temperatures and sunshine for their practice Thursday and semifinal game against UMass Friday. However, a cold front came through Raleigh Saturday, bringing temperatures in the high 30s and low 40s and wind. That made practice Saturday cold and chased away many of the kids were there as part of the youth clinic.
By Sunday, it warmed up to the mid-50s, but the wind was still gusting up to 30 miles per hour, making it feel more like it was in the low 40s during the championship game.
NOTING THE UMASS GAME
– The crowd of 8,611 marked the largest crowd ever to see an Ohio State soccer game.
– Senior Eric Edwards scored the game-winning goal in the win over UMass, marking his first collegiate game-winning goal.
– Ohio State had the first seven shots of the game against UMass and outshot the Minutemen 13-7 in the game. It marked the 19th and final time during the season that the Buckeyes outshot their opponent in 26 total games. Ohio State was 14-2-3 when outshooting its opponent.
– With the 1-0 win, the Buckeyes improved to 14-0-2 during the season when scoring first. They would score first against Wake Forest, too, but suffer their first defeat.
– The win over UMass upped Ohio State unbeaten streak to 15 games (12-0-3). During that time, the Buckeyes allowed only six goals, with three of those coming in the win over UC Santa Barbara.
– Senior goalkeeper Casey Latchem notched his 27th and final shutout of his career in the win over UMass. The previous school record for career shutouts was 23.5.
– Senior Xavier Balc had an assist on Edwards’ goal, which would mark his 35th and final career assist. His career total of 35 assists more than doubled the previous school record of 17 set by three players.
– During the last three years, Ohio State went 32-3-2 when Balc had at least one point.
NOTING THE WAKE FOREST GAME
– The loss to Wake Forest marked the first time this season that Ohio State lost after scoring first (14-1-2).
– Following the loss, the Buckeyes are now 6-5-0 all-time in the NCAA tournament. Never before had Ohio State advanced past the third round (Sweet 16’).
– Junior Roger Espinoza scored in the 13th minute to put Ohio State up, 1-0, and give him his first points of the NCAA tournament and third goal overall this season.
– The Buckeyes had 12 shots in the game, all of them coming in the first half.
– Junior defender Tim Gabel re-aggravated an upper leg injury and left the game permanently at the 20 minute mark.
– Ohio State was 6-0-1 at neutral sites this season entering the game, which counts as a neutral site despite the close proximity to Wake Forest’s campus in Winston-Salem, N.C.
SCHOOL RECORDS SET
The following school records were set or tied during the 2007 season…
– Most wins 17. Previous record was 12 set three times.
– Most ties 5 (tied). Previously set in 1973.
– Most overtime games 8 (tied). Previously set twice.
– Most shots attempted 428. Previous record was 399 set in 1987.
– Most shots allowed 325. Previous record was 307 set in 1982.
– Most matches played 26. Previous record was 22 set in 1987.
– Unbeaten streak 15 (12-0-3). Previous record was seven set three times.
– Most shutouts 15. Previous record was 11 set twice.
– Consecutive shutouts 5. Previous record was 4 set twice.
– Most assists in a game 11 (tied). Previously set at Wisconsin in 1999.
In addition, Ohio State had never played a game in December before this season.
WHEN LIGHTS GO DOWN
When the national championship game against Wake Forest ended, so did the careers of seven Ohio State seniors. Long before reaching the College Cup, they were already the winningest class in Ohio State men’s soccer history with an overall record of 51-26-12.
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 (OSU all-time leader in shutouts and goals against average), forwards Eric Edwards and Ryan Kustos and midfielders Kyle Retzlaff and Steven Traeger.
### OhioStateBuckeyes.com ###
Contact: Tim Stried, stried.3@osu.edu
