W Soccer: Yes! A Comeback OT Win for Ohio State – Ohio State Buckeyes
9/21/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
COLUMBUS, Ohio Ohio State came back from a 1-0 deficit on the strength of two stunning goals to defeat Louisville, 2-1, in overtime Sunday at sun-drenched Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium. A crowd of more than 1,800 fans watched the Buckeyes improve to 2-4-2 with their second consecutive win. Louisville is now 3-3-1.
Senior Lisa Collison set up the tying goal in the 82nd minute, a header by freshman Taylor Moront, and then scored the game winner in the 98th minute. Here’s how both plays happened:
- Trailing 1-0 and with Louisville content on sending shot after time-wasting shot at the Ohio State net four of them by Kelsey Hunyadi from Dublin Coffman H.S. the Buckeyes’ Ashley Boyer took control of the ball and found Collison roaming on the left side. Collison dribbled forward and chipped a blooper into the box that Moront headed into the net with force and with total lack of regard for the discomfort she could have felt had she and Louisville goalkeeper Chloe Kiefer collided.
- Ohio State dominated the final eight minutes of regulation and then in the first overtime session there was more Bowyer to Collison magic. Stationed about 45 yards out to the right of the circle, Bowyer punched the ball with such backspin over the Louisville back line that it virtually stopped when it hit the ground. A charging Collison was first to reach it and she dropped a lovely ball over Kiefer that rolled into the net for her ninth career game-winner.
“I’m just proud of our ability to stick with a really tough game,” Ohio State coach Lori Walker said. “Louisville caused us some problems in the second half. They adjusted their shape but we just continued to fight and find a way to raise our energy in the critical moments of the game.”
From the 63rd minute on, when Louisville’s Shannon Smyth raced down the middle of the field and drilled a ball just to the right of a diving Lauren Robertson, every moment and every play was critical. The Buckeyes responded with a series of sparkling plays sparkles for short to keep it a one-goal game until the dramatic tying goal. Consider:
- Robertson climbed the ladder in the 68th minute to deflect one Hunyadi shot over the net.
- In the 72nd minute Hunyadi punched a through ball to Ashley Auld who sent a point blank shot on goal that Robertson dove for and smothered for the save. Robertson also punched out a corner kick in the 85th minute.
- Elizabeth Sullivan sent a header on goal off a Courtney Jenkins free kick in the 88th minute. Kiefer was there for the save.
- And in the 95th minute defender Lauren Steuer cleanly won the ball over Ashley Auld with Auld dangerously close to the six-yard box.
For the game, Ohio State held a 16-15 advantage in shots although Louisville led in shots on goal, 8-4. Louisville also led in fouls: 17-10.
Game Notes, More Sparkles and Other Notes of Interest:
- Players choices for player of the game: Ashley Bowyer, Lauren Beachy, Colleen Brady and Paige Maxwell.
- Lisa Collison has 31 career goals and 72 career points. She is now fourth in points at Ohio State.
- Collison had a five-point weekend with a goal against Evansville.
- Taylor Moront has scored goals in three consecutive games. She and Collison lead with three goals apiece.
- Alex Burzynski and Genna Brand led with three shots apiece vs. Louisville.
- Kelsi Landry returned to action on the back line after missing the last three games with an ankle sprain.
- Soccer is cool at Ohio State. Although an official attendance was not available at the time of this writing, more than 1,800 fans witnessed the comeback win by the women and then stayed to watch the Ohio State men play Michigan State.
- Nice work by the Ohio State marketing department for its efforts in attracting that season high attendance figure.
- The Greater Outer Belt Youth Soccer League (GOYSL) deserves special thanks for purchasing a combined 1,700 tickets for the men’s and women’s double header.
###OhioStateBuckeyes.com###
