Ohio State Wins Third-Consecutive Match, 3-0 Over Wright State – Ohio State Buckeyes
9/4/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State women’s soccer team defeated Wright State, 3-0, Tuesday evening at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium to improve to 3-0 on the season. The Raiders dropped to 2-1.
For the third game in row Buckeye head coach Lori Walker received solid play from a number of freshman that was coupled with terrific and expected leadership from the upperclassmen.
“Our younger players have continued to improve over these first three games,” Walker said. “We do have some youth in our front six players and they are realizing that their motion creates goal scoring opportunities.”
Freshmen contributed five points against Wright State and have now totaled 14 points through the Buckeyes’ first three games. Dublin Coffman grad Courtney Jenkins and Genna Brand, from Virginia Beach, Va., are leading the team with two goals apiece. Both scored against Wright State.
Jenkins put the Buckeyes out in front, 1-0, at 20:42 of the first half with a left-footed drive from 20-yards out. The goal was unassisted, but it was the result of a rush by Lara Dickenmann that covered nearly two-thirds of the field. Dickenmann, who had three shots during the game, was finally stopped just outside of the 18-yard box by two Wright State defenders. The ball bounded away and Jenkins was there with the shot.
Brand scored at the 70-minute mark, deftly maneuvering the ball around the charging WSU goalkeeper to push in a shot from five yards out. The assist went to freshman Lauren Beachy.
Sophomore Caitlin Colfer then put the game out of reach with a 15-yard blast from directly in front of the goal with just under eight minutes remaining in the contest.
While the freshmen class, judged No. 1 in the Big Ten and No. 13 nationally by college soccer experts, has not disappointed, neither has the leadership and direction that Walker expects from the juniors and seniors on the team.
“I think leadership from our more experienced players is supposed to take the pressure off our younger players,” Walker said, “and today I think our leaders blossomed. Every time the ball was in the air, we responded. And when we needed some vocal assistance, it was our seniors that rallied the team and made the plays to get this shutout win.”
Sophomore goalkeeper Lauren Robertson made four saves, plus there was a team save, to secure the shutout. Robertson now has 12 wins and six shutouts for her career.
The Buckeyes return to action this weekend against two West Coast schools. Friday evening (Sept. 7) Ohio State hosts Pepperdine in a 7:30 p.m. game at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium. Sunday the Buckeyes host San Diego at 1 p.m.
After the San Diego game, Walker will depart for Bristol, Conn., to call nine of the women’s World Cup opening round matches. Associate head coach Greg Miller will coach the team against Ohio (Sept. 13 at Jesse Owens) and at Louisville (Sept. 16). Walker will return in time to coach her team against her alma mater, No. 1 North Carolina, Sept. 21 in Durham, N.C.
Good News and Notes:
- Ohio State is 3-0 for the first time since the 2003 season.
- The Buckeyes outshot Wright State 25-9, including a 13-5 edge in shots on goal.
- Genna Brand and Emily Esbrook tied for the team lead with five shots apiece against WSU.
- True freshmen Courtney Jenkins, Lauren Hallauer and Alex Burzynski started for the third straight game.
- Goalkeeper Lauren Robertson was credited with the assist on the team’s final goal.
- Ohio State is outscoring its opponents, 9-2, and is averaging nearly 20 shots per game.
Soccer Game Summary (Final)
Ohio State 3, Wright State 0
(Sep 04, 2007 at Columbus, Ohio)
Records: Wright State (2-1-1); Ohio State (3-0-0)
Goals by period 1 2 Tot
——————————-
Wright State…….. 0 0 – 0
Ohio State………. 1 2 – 3
SCORING SUMMARY:
1. 20:42 OSU Jenkins, Courtney (2) (unassisted) – Left-footed blast from 20 yards in front of goal
2. 70:50 OSU Brand, Genna (2) (Beachy, Lauren) – Deked the ball around charging goalkeeper from 5 yards out
3. 82:26 OSU Colfer, Caitlin (1) (Robertson, Lauren) – 15-blast from directly in front of the goal
Shots: Wright State 9, Ohio State 25
Saves: Wright State 10 (Meghan Hackerson 8; TEAM 2), Ohio State 5
(Robertson, Lauren 4; TEAM 1)
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