W Soccer: Ohio State Defeats Evansville, 3-1 – Ohio State Buckeyes
9/19/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
COLUMBUS, Ohio Ohio State scored in the first two minutes of the game, built the lead to 3-0 behind a 19-shot attack and defeated Evansville, 3-1, Friday before 736 fans at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium. The win improves Ohio State’s record to 1-4-2 while Evansville drops to 4-2-1 with the loss.
Excellent midfield play offensively and defensively was the difference maker for this Ohio State team and this game. Sophomore Emily Esbrook controlled play in the middle in the first half and assisted on each of Ohio State’s first two goals. Sophomore Alex Burzynski gave the team “a ton of energy,” according to Ohio State coach Lori Walker and Ashley Bowyer and Courtney Jenkins gave their typical solid, if not outstanding, efforts. To no surprise, Burzynski and Esbrook were the players’ choices for player of the game.
“Our defending, especially out of our midfielders, was the difference in this game,” Walker said. “We connected defensively and we were on the same page. We were winning balls and generating opportunities. We just have to keep building on this effort.”
There was plenty of offense, too. Ohio State sent a season-high 19 shots toward the goal with a season-high seven on net. Evansville had 10 shots and two on goal.
Lisa Collison scored, perhaps, the biggest goal of this game. The senior came in off the bench with a vengeance and within two minutes found the back of the net for her 30th career goal and her second this season. It was a critical goal, giving the Buckeyes a 2-0 lead in the 32nd minute.
“I came in off the bench and I wanted to contribute,” Collison said. “I got an open look right when I got in, and fortunately I was able to put it into the net tonight.”
It was obvious from the start that Ohio State was a team on a mission. Just two minutes into the game a series of crisp passes set up freshman Paige Maxwell for a blast from 10 yards that Evansville goalkeeper Theresa Bagby had no chance of stopping.
The play was started by Esbrook, who looked totally comfortable all game. She sent a through ball toward the left side that found Genna Brand in stride. Brand, making her second start of the season, moved a couple steps with the ball before guiding a left-footed cross to the middle of the box to the waiting Maxwell, who found the back of the net for her second goal of the season. With 43:07 showing on the clock, this was Ohio State’s quickest goal of the season.
Ohio State kept the pressure on and in the 32nd minute Esbrook set up Collison, making it 2-0. Once again, Esbrook was in charge in the middle before sending an efficient pass to Collison near the top of the box. Settling the ball and taking one giant step, Collison then crushed a rising, left-footed rocket from about 22 yards.
Evansville found a comfort zone in the second half and was able to send nine shots toward Ohio State goalkeeper Lauren Robertson, but only one was on goal. Robertson made the save on the Purple Aces’ best scoring chance of the game, a shot by Julie Winkler in the 72nd minute.
Ohio State freshman Taylor Moront scored her second goal of the season in the 73rd minute to increase the lead to 3-0. Freshman Danielle Scoliere received a wide ball, saw she had room and dribbled toward the middle. With a couple of Buckeyes to choose from, she chipped the ball to Moront, who was at the top of the box, and before it could bounce Moront one-timed it into the goal.
Evansville’s goal was an Ohio State own goal in the 82nd minute…an unfortunate ending to the game for the home team but certainly something that happens in this sport. And it’s not something to dwell on. Ohio State won. And there’s another game to be played Sunday.
Game Notes and Other Notes of Interest:
- Contributing to the first half dominance by Ohio State were some terrific corner kicks by Lauren Beachy, Courtney Jenkins and Alex Burzynski.
- Evansville leading scorer Kayla Lambert, who entered the game with six goals and 14 points, was held to one shot. Particularly noticeable early on were fine defensive plays by freshmen Colleen Brady and Danielle Scoliere. Brady took the ball won the ball from Lambert at the top of the box in the 17th minute and Scoliere shadowed Lambert along the left side for 30 yards before winning the ball in the 41st.
- Scoliere’s assist was her first career point as a Buckeye.
- Four Buckeyes have two goals this season: Ashley Bowyer, Lisa Collison, Paige Maxwell and Taylor Moront.
- Collison is now alone in third place with 30 career goals. In front of her are school record holder Lisa Grubb (35 goals) and Lisa Suttmiller (32).
- Collison on her goal: “It felt great to get that goal tonight, and that’s what I came here to do. Hopefully we can keep this momentum going for the rest of the year.”
- Alex Burzynski and Collison each had point-blank shots back-to-back that Evansville’s Theresa Bagby somehow made saves on. Credit Bagby’s effort…and bravery. Burzynski’s shot was off Collison’s rebound.
- Ohio State started two juniors, six sophomores and three freshmen.
- Goalkeeper Kristen Touche played in her first collegiate game. The red-shirt freshman spelled Robertson for the last 12 minutes.
- Sunday Ohio State hosts Louisville in a noon game at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium.
- Fans attending the game vs. Louisville Sunday are reminded to park in the Buckeye lots just north of Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium and to access those lots from Fred Taylor drive off of Ackerman Road. The south end of Fred Taylor Drive, off of Lane Avenue, will be closed to the public due to the students moving back into their dorms for the start of classes.
###OhioStateBuckeyes.com###
