W Soccer: Home Season Concludes with two Tough Tests – Ohio State Buckeyes
10/16/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The leaders in the race for the Big Ten Conference championship are still in striking distance and Ohio State seeks to pick up some ground this weekend with two contests at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium. At 7:30 p.m. Friday Ohio State hosts Iowa and at 1 p.m. Sunday the team hosts Minnesota on a day when the Ohio State seniors – Caitlin Colfer, Lisa Collison and Amy Graeff – will be honored before the game.
Records: Ohio State is 6-6-2 overall and 3-2-0 in the Big Ten; Iowa is 8-6-1 overall and 2-2-1 in the Big Ten; Minnesota is 14-1-0 and 4-1-0 in the Big Ten.
THE SITUATION WITH THE STANDINGS
Ohio State enters the weekend’s contests tied with Illinois for fifth place in the Big Ten with nine points apiece. Purdue leads the league with 13 points and there is a scrum of three schools – Minnesota, Penn State and Michigan State – tied for second with 12 points apiece. Iowa is right behind Ohio State and Illinois with seven points.
TEAM RESULTS LAST WEEKEND
Ohio State had its six-game winning streak snapped at Michigan State, losing 5-1. The team then lost on the road to Michigan, 2-0. GK Lauren Robertson injured her leg in the Michigan game and was replaced for the first time in three seasons. Freshman Katie Baumgardner finished the game.
Iowa, meanwhile, stunned No. 16 Illinois, 1-0, before losing, 2-1, to league-leading Purdue.
Although Michigan State would argue this point (the Spartans had wins last week over Ohio State and Penn State) Minnesota is the hottest team in the Big Ten with four consecutive wins and a gaudy 14-1-0 record. The Golden Gophers, ranked No. 23 in this week’s NSCAA/adidas Poll, defeated Purdue and Illinois by 1-0 scores last week.
WHAT’S UP, DOC?
Lauren Robertson’s leg injury is the latest in a series of strains, pulls, illnesses and surgeries to players that have caused mulitple line-up changes by the coaching staff. A total of 19 games have been missed this season by would-be starters or everyday reserves.
OHIO STATE vs. IOWA
Ohio State seeks to bury last weekend’s results with a solid effort against the Hawkeyes. Iowa won last year, 1-0, on an overtime own goal, but Ohio State holds a 6-4-1 edge in the series. Ohio State is 3-1-1 vs. the Hawkeyes in the last five meetings.
Buckeye/Hawkeye Notes…
Ohio State is led in scoring by Lisa Collison (6 goals, 2 assists and 14 points), Paige Maxwell (4-2-10) and Ashley Bowyer (2-6-10).
Freshman Taylor Moront scored Ohio State’s goal last weekend vs. MSU. It was her fourth of the season. She and Maxwell are second on the team in goals scored behind Collison.
Collison still ranks second in goals (34) and fourth in points (78) all-time at Ohio State.
Lauren “Taz” Robertson has started 51 consecutive games in net for Ohio State.
In Big Ten games only, Ohio State ranks third in points and goals, tied for second in assists and fifth in shots. Iowa, meanwhile, ranks ninth in points, seventh in goals, 10th in assists and 11th in shots.
Iowa boasts three double-figure point scorers: Kelli McLaughlin (5-5-15), Alyssa Cosnek (7-0-14) and Stephanie Hyink (4-2-10).
After losing three consecutive to west coast teams, the Hawkeyes have gone 6-3-1 since including a 2-2-1 mark in the Big Ten.
Iowa is rotating its goalkeepers. Emily Moran and Kali Feiereisel have posted 4-3-0 and 4-3-1, records, respectively.
OHIO STATE vs. No. 23 MINNESOTA
Sunday will represent the 18th meeting on the pitch between Ohio State and Minnesota. The teams are tied in the all time series: eight wins vs. eight losses and one tie. Ohio State has won six consecutive games in this series dating to a 1-0 Minnesota win during the 2001 season.
Buckeyes vs. Golden Gophers Notes…
Ohio State has shutouts in four of its wins during the six-game winning streak and has outscored the Golden Gophers, 13-2, in the run.
Ohio State is 3-1 vs. Minnesota in Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium.
In the initial RPI Poll that came out last week, Ohio State was ranked 39th; Minnesota 57th.
Courtney Jenkins scored the game-winner in OT last year, off an assist from Alex Burzynski.
NO GOALS FOR 445 MINUTES
GK Lauren “Taz” Robertson did not allow a goal in 445 minutes over parts of six games, including five Ohio State wins. The scoreless streak lasted until the 49th minute of the Michigan State game. Taz recorded four consecutive shutouts during that time to increase her career total to 16 and move her into sole possession of second place on Ohio State’s all-time list. Amber Barnes holds the record with 22.5 shutouts between 1997-2000.
NEXT WEEK
Ohio State is on the road for the rest of the regular season starting with a game Friday, Oct. 24 at Purdue and then one at Illinois on Oct. 26. The regular season finale is a match at Penn State Oct. 31.
Click on the attached PDF for more notes, Big Ten standings, records and more.
###OhioStateBuckeyes.com###
