10/21/2009 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Buckeyes make their second appearance of 2009 on the Big Ten Network Friday
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The No. 15 Ohio State field hockey team (11-4; 3-1 Big Ten) takes its four-game win streak on the road to East Lansing, Mich., where the squad will play No. 8 Michigan State (12-3; 3-0 Big Ten) at 3 p.m. Friday at the site of the 2009 conference tournament in a Big Ten Network game.
Following the league matchup, the Buckeyes return to Columbus for its home finale vs. No. 13 Duke at 1 p.m. Sunday. Ohio State will recognize its seniors before the start of the game as part of its Senior Day festivities.
THANK YOU SENIORS
The senior class of Natalia Ciminello, Rachel Hunter, Melissa Hunter, Melissa Palm, Lindsay Quintiliani and Ali Ristas have accomplished a lot since setting foot on campus four years ago.
The class of six earned a Big Ten ring, winning the regular-season title in 2006, before posting the program’s first NCAA win the same season, downing California, 3-1, Nov. 11 in Durham, N.C. The running count of games won over their four years is at 46 as the squad enters the weekend vs. Michigan State and Duke.
As freshmen, the class helped Ohio State to a 15-4 overall record and 5-1 league ledger to claim the regular-season title at home with a thrilling 4-3 double overtime victory over Michigan State Oct. 28. Last year as juniors, the group led the fifth-seeded squad (14-7; 3-3 Big Ten) all the way to the conference tournament title game, ousting top-seeded Penn State in overtime in the semifinals en route to a runner-up finish.
A defensively-minded class, comprised of two keepers, two backs, a midfielder and a forward, the seniors have shutout 22 opponents in the last four seasons and have limited its foes to less than two goals a game (1.38 gpg) in the 2006, ’08 and ’09 season combined.
ON THE BTN
Ohio State made its first appearance of 2009 on the Big Ten Network at Penn State Oct. 2 in University Park, Pa. Sophomore captain Aisling Coyle gave the Buckeyes an early lead but the Nittany Lions tied it at 1-all before the half.
Neither team scored in the second stanza sending the game into overtime where Penn State tallied the gamewinner in the fifth minute for the 2-1 win.
JUST AS GOOD THE SECOND TIME AROUND
Sophomore Maria Briones and freshman Berta Queralt were named the Big Ten Offensive Player and Freshman of the Week, respectively, for the second week in a row Monday.
Briones earned her second Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honor and Queralt received her fifth rookie of the week laurel after leading Ohio State to two wins last week, including a 2-1 overtime win vs. then-No. 14 Louisville Oct. 14 and 4-3 league victory over Michigan last Saturday.
Against the Cardinals, Briones made the way for Queralt’s first goal, sending a perfect slot pass in from the right lane to help the Buckeyes to a 1-0 lead. The native of Barcelona, Spain, then broke open Ohio State’s scoring drive vs. the Wolverines, redirecting two passes in for goals to help put the Buckeyes up 3-1 before the half.
Briones ranks second on the team and fifth in the Big Ten in scoring with 26 points on 10 goals and six assists after notching points in 10-of-13 games played.
Queralt, who shared the weekly honor with Michigan State’s Adelle Lever, scored both of Ohio State’s goals vs. Louisville, including her Big Ten-leading fifth gamewinner, to propel the Buckeyes over the Cardinals, 2-1 in overtime. Against Michigan, the rookie scored a goal and added an assist to help Ohio State move to 3-1 in the Big Ten while also extending the team’s win streak to four in a row.
THE OCTOBER TRIALS
Heading into the 2009 season, Ohio State knew October would be a challenging month. Five-of-eight teams the Buckeyes face this month made the 2008 NCAA Tournament.
Ohio State opened the month with a 2-1 overtime loss to Penn State Oct. 2 but bounced back with a 2-0 blanking of Iowa Oct. 11 and followed with a 2-1 overtime win over Louisville Oct. 14.
Still yet to go, the Scarlet and Gray will host No. 13 Duke (8-7 overall) at 1 p.m. Sunday after playing No. 8 Michigan State Friday in East Lansing, the site of the 2009 Big Ten Tournament.
AROUND THE BIG TEN
Among its conference counterparts, Ohio State has scored the third-most goals (47) and has limited its opponents to a league-low 21 goals, tying Michigan State. Overall this season, the Buckeye keepers own a combined 1.40 goals against average, tying the Spartans for the best in the league.
With six shutouts in 15 games, the Buckeyes lead the league with Michigan, Michigan State and Northwestern in a tie for second with three. Ohio State is tied for second with Indiana with six defensive saves while Penn State has recorded seven.
With a .733 overall win percentage, Ohio State has the second-best mark while MSU leads the league with a 12-3 record (.800). Northwestern is third with a 12-5 overall ledger (.706).
In conference action, Michigan State (3-0) leads the pack followed by Ohio State with a 3-1 conference ledger after downing Michigan, 4-3, last Saturday. The Wolverines (2-2) are now tied with Indiana for third while Iowa is fifth (2-3) after dropping 3-0 to Michigan State in Iowa City last Friday. Northwestern and Penn State are tied for last with 1-3 records.
QUICK GLANCE AT OSU-MSU
The Buckeyes enter the game sitting in second in the league standings after downing Michigan, 4-3, last Saturday to improve to 3-1 while the Spartans sit in first at 3-0. The Scarlet and Gray are on a four game win streak while MSU has won seven in a row.
The Ohio State-Michigan State contest will air on a tape delayed basis at 6 p.m. Sunday on the Big Ten Network.
SPARTAN’S SOUNDBOARD
Michigan State has put together a strong season, posting a 12-3 overall record and a 3-0 Big Ten ledger. The Spartans have outshot their opponents, 282-137, and hold a 134-65 advantage in penalty corners.
Offensively, Floor Rijpma leads the Sparatans with 29 points on 13 goals, including three gamewinners, and three assists. Manouk Vernij is second with 25 points on eight goals and nine assists while Jantine Steinmetz has 16 points on eight goals, including four gamewinners.
Between the pipes is junior goalkeeper Elissa Unger who has played in all 15 games for MSU, making 66 saves and allowing 21 goals in 1063:21 for a 1.38 goals against average.
COMMON FOES
The Buckeyes and Spartans have played seven common foes, each earning wins against Ohio, Central Michigan, Indiana, Iowa and Louisville while dropping overtime games to Syracuse. The only differing result between the two squads came vs. James Madison. Ohio State fell 1-0 in its season opener vs. JMU Aug. 29 while Michigan State downed the Dukes, 4-1, Sept. 19 in Harrisonburg, Va.
OSU VS. MSU
Ohio State leads Michigan State, 34-17-3, in the all-time series record but the Spartans have had the Buckeyes’ number in recent years. MSU, then-ranked 10th nationally, earned a 3-1 road win in Columbus a season ago. In 2006, Ohio State extended its five-game win streak with a 4-3 double-overtime win over the Spartans (Oct. 28) en route to earning the Big Ten regular-season title with a 5-1 league record.
Last Five Regular Season Meetings
Sept. 26, 2008 Michigan State 3, Ohio State 1
Oct. 7, 2007 Michigan State 4, Ohio State 2
Oct. 28, 2006 Ohio State 4, Michigan State 3 (2OT)
Oct. 29, 2005 Michigan State 1, Ohio State 0
Oct. 2, 2004 Michigan State 3, Ohio State 2 (OT)
THE BLUE DEVILS
Duke enters the matchup vs. Ohio State after playing Ohio University Saturday in Athens, Ohio. The team heads into the weekend with an 8-7 overall record and 0-4 conference ledger. All seven of the Blue Devils’ losses have gone to ranked opponents, including No. 1 Maryland and No. 2 North Carolina.
Amie Survilla leads the squad with 41 points on 20 goals and an assist, including one gamewinner. Susan Ferger is second on the team with 20 points on eight goals and four assists.
Samantha Nelson has started 14 of Dukes’ 15 games this season, playing 941:34 and making 61 saves. She is 7-7 with one shutout, letting in 31 goals for a 2.30 GGA.
THE SERIES
Duke leads the all-time series vs. Ohio State with a 5-0 mark. The Buckeyes gave the Blue Devils a run for their money a season ago, falling 3-2 in Durham, N.C., Sept. 20.
Last Five Meetings
Sept. 20, 2008 – Duke 3, Ohio State 2
Nov. 12, 2006 – Duke 3, Ohio State 0
Sept. 4, 2005 – Duke 3, Ohio State 1
Sept. 13, 1992 – Duke 2, Ohio State 1
Sept. 14, 1991 – Duke 4, Ohio State 0
SHUTDOWN
The Ohio State defense has recorded a league-best six shutouts this season, three more than its closest opponents. In the team’s six white-washings, its opponents have averaged just 5.3 shots a contest with Saint Louis (Aug. 30) limited to zero shots while Ball State (Sept. 22) did not put a shot on goal.
CLOSE CALLS
Of Ohio State’s four losses this season, three have come in overtime and all have been just one-goal contests.
STAT POWER
Ohio State has outshot its opponents, 242-146, and owns a 111-92 advantage in penalty corners in 2009.
SCORING POINTS
Freshman Berta Queralt leads the Ohio State offense with 40 points on a team-high 14 goals and 12 assists. Her point total ranks second in the league while her 12 helpers rank first overall. Among other Big Ten rookies, Queralt currently holds a 15-point advantage over Michigan State rookie Vernij Manouk who has 25.
Sophomore Maria Briones is second on the squad with 26 points on 10 goals and six assists to rank fifth in scoring in the Big Ten. Junior forward Jena Cacciatore is third on the team and seventh in the league with a career-high 24 points on 10 goals and four assists.
Through 15 games, the Buckeyes have seen 11 student-athletes record points and nine different players notch goals.
D-TIME
Goalkeeper Lindsay Quintiliani has played in all but one contest this season. The senior, along with the help of a tremendous Buckeye backfield, has recorded a league-high five shutouts, lowering her goals against average to 1.17, allowing just 16 goals in 955:37. Her GAA is the best in the Big Ten while her .738 save percentage (45 saves) ranks fourth in the league.
Ohio State’s midfielders and backs have limited opponents to just 9.7 shots per game in 2009 while the Buckeyes average 16.1 shots a game. The backfield has a combined six defensive saves with Jenn Sciulli posting three, the second most in the Big Ten, Laura Napolitano two and Rachel Hunter one.
Sophomore Ally Tunitis also has seen time in goal this season, starting vs. then-No. 7 Princeton (Sept. 5), playing all 12:26 minutes and allowing five goals for a 3.47 GAA in the overtime loss. She also played 28:29 minutes between the pipes in the 7-0 shutout of Saint Louis (Aug. 30).
NETMINIDING RECORDS
Senior goalkeeper Lindsay Quintiliani keeps working her way up the Ohio State record book in 2009.
Clean Slates
Quintiliani posted her fifth shutout of 2009 vs. Iowa Oct. 11 and the 14th in her career and is now just one shy of tying Sue Willson (1989-92) who owns the record with 15. With the 5-0 blanking of Ball State (Sept. 22), Quintiliani took over the No. 2 spot in the program’s all-time record book passing Kim Willis (12.5; 1985-87).
Adding on Wins
After breaking the Ohio State all-time record for career wins with the 2-0 blanking of Iowa Oct. 11, Quintiliani upped her record to 39 with the 4-3 win vs. Michigan last Saturday. The graduate of Crestwood High School passed Lindsay Williams (2002-05) who previously owned the record with 36 victories.
Making the Stops
With 199 saves, Quintiliani ranks ninth in the program’s all-time record book. Earlier this season she passed Anna Schwartz (180 saves, 1998) to crack into the all-time career Top 10 and Stefanie Eyerkaufer (188 saves, 1993) to take over ninth place. Quintiliani has made 47 stops in her senior season and now trails former Buckeye Allison Blanton (1998-01) who currently sits in eighth with 211.
P.O.W. TIMES TWO
Maria Briones and Berta Queralt, both natives of Barcelona, Spain, paired to give Ohio State a 2-0 victory over Iowa Oct. 11 and each scored in a 5-2 road victory over Miami Oct. 7 to earn Big Ten player of the week honors Oct. 12.
Briones was named the Big Ten Co-Offensive Player of the Week after notching her first career gamewinner vs. the Hawkeyes, breaking the scoreless tie at 64:57. She then partnered with Queralt, who earns her fourth Big Ten Freshman of the Week accolade, on a two-on-two breakaway, assisting on Queralt’s 11th career goal in the 67th minute.
Both Briones and Queralt scored unassisted goals vs. Miami in Oxford, Ohio, to end the week with five points each.
GAMEWINNERS
Freshman Berta Queralt leads the Big Ten with five gamewinning goals this season, notching the deciding goal vs. Saint Louis (Aug. 30), Kent State (Sept. 16), Vermont (Sept. 18), Indiana (Sept. 27) and Louisville (Oct. 14).
With five gamewinners, the Barcelona, Spain, native is tied for second on the Ohio State single season record list. A category tracked at Ohio State since 1994, Jayne Landis owns the record, notching six gamewinning goals in 1999.
Junior Jena Cacciatore has scored two gamewinners, coming vs. Ohio (Sept. 11) and Ball State (Sept. 22). In three seasons, the Allentown, Pa., native has six gamewinning goals and ties for ninth in the Ohio State career record book, with Lauren Kruse (2003-06) and Landis (1999).
Junior Aisling McKeon and sophomores Maria Briones and Jenn Sciulli have a single gamewinner each.
THE BUCKEYE BEAT
Ohio State downed then-No. 14 Louisville, 2-1, Oct. 14, earning its first OT win of 2009 as freshman Berta Queralt, the reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Week, scored her fifth gamewinner to propel the Buckeyes over the Cardinals while also scoring the first goal of the game to give Ohio State the initial lead. Ohio State extended its winning streak to four in a row with a 4-3 victory vs. Michigan last Saturday.
The Buckeyes went 2-0 during the first full week of October, downing Miami, 5-2, on the road Oct. 7 and blanking conference foe Iowa, 2-0, at North Turf Field Oct. 11. Four Buckeyes scored vs. the RedHawks, including junior Aisling McKeon who notched her first two-goal game of 2009.
After 64 minutes of scoreless play, sophomore Maria Briones tipped an Aisling Coyle shot to give the Buckeyes a 1-0 lead vs. the Hawkeyes and then paired with Queralt on a two-on-two breakaway, assisting on the second goal. Briones was named the Big Ten Co-Offensive Player of the Week and Queralt the league’s rookie of the week after each posting five points last week.
The shutout, Ohio State’s Big Ten-leading sixth of 2009, was the 37th career win and 14th career white-washing for senior goalkeeper Lindsay Quintiliani who now owns the No. 1 spot in the OSU all-time record book for victories, passing Lindsay Williams (36 wins, 2002-05). The Mountain, Top, Pa., native is one shy of tying the all-time career shutout record which is held by Sue Willson (1989-92) with 15.
Ohio State recorded a six-game win streak before dropping a 2-1 overtime loss at Penn State Oct. 2. Against the Nittany Lions, Coyle gave the Buckeyes an early lead but the Nittany Lions tied it at 1-all before the half. Neither team scored in the second stanza and it was Penn State who got the gamewinner in the fifth minute of overtime.
SIX IN A ROW
The Buckeyes were in a groove in September, racking up six wins and only two overtime losses in the month. Ohio State’s win streak started with a 3-0 blanking of Ohio Sept. 11 and lasted through a thrilling last minute 3-2 win over Indiana Sept. 27.
Against the Hoosiers, sophomore captain Aisling Coyle cleared the way for Berta Queralt to score her Big Ten-leading fourth gamewinning goal to propel the Buckeyes over the Hoosiers with seven seconds left in the game. Queralt earned her second-consecutive Big Ten Freshman of the Week honor for her effort.
Sophomore Maria Briones led the squad with two goals and two assists vs. Ball State Sept. 22 while the OSU backfield hindered Ball State from putting a shot on goal. For senior goalkeeper Lindsay Quintiliani, the shutout was the 13th of her career.
The Buckeyes went 3-0 Sept. 14-20, downing Kent State (5-2, Sept. 16), Vermont (3-0, Sept. 18) and Central Michigan (1-0, Sept. 20). The winning streak earned senior goalkeeper Quintiliani the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week accolade while Queralt was named the league’s Freshman of the Week Sept. 14.
Sophomore back Jenn Sciulli recorded the gamewinner vs. Central Michigan with Briones on the assist while Quintiliani made three crucial saves to ensure the shutout.
Queralt gave Ohio State a 2-0 lead vs. Vermont Sept. 18 and Coyle added a late goal to give the Buckeyes a 3-0 blanking of the Catamounts.
Against Kent State Sept. 16, junior forward Jena Cacciatore and Queralt led the Ohio State offense with two goals each.
The 3-0 shutout of the Ohio University Bobcats (Sept. 11) earned Quintiliani the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week nod Sept. 14.
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK – THE SEQUEL
For a second-consecutive week, Berta Queralt, was recognized as the Big Ten Freshman of the Week, sharing the laurel with Michigan State’s Manouk Vernij Sept. 28.
Queralt paired with sophomore captain Aisling Coyle to lead Ohio State to a 3-2 victory in its Big Ten opener vs. Indiana Sept. 27, scoring her fourth career gamewinner with seven seconds remaining in the game.
She posted seven points on the week, recording a goal and two assists vs. Ball State Sept. 22 before knocking in the gamewinner and adding an assist in her first Big Ten game.
DOUBLE HONORS
Ohio State had two student-athletes named Big Ten Players of the Week Sept. 21 after going 3-0 the week of Sept. 14-20 with senior goalkeeper Lindsay Quintiliani earning the defensive honor and forward Berta Queralt earning rookie of the week.
Quintiliani made a total of 10 saves, posting two shutouts and allowing just two goals in 210 minutes. In the win vs. Central Michigan Sept. 20, Quintiliani made two diving saves and survived 10 minutes of man-down play, including two minutes of Ohio State playing down two players, to ensure her third shutout of the season.
Offensively, Queralt led the Buckeyes with nine points on four goals and an assist.
HANGING TOUGH
The Buckeyes showed they can play with the nation’s best, pushing both No. 3 Syracuse and No. 6 Princeton into overtime the Sept. 4-5 weekend in Syracuse, N.Y.
The then 18th-ranked Buckeyes held a one goal lead over the Orange twice but suffered a 3-2 OT loss in the 74th minute Sept. 4. The following day, Ohio State took a 3-1 halftime lead over the Tigers but Princeton, then ranked No. 7, was able to tie the game with just four minutes remaining and tipped the gamewinner in 2:26 into overtime.
Ohio State opened the 2009 season, dropping a physical 1-0 game to then-No. 12 James Madison (Aug. 29) before bouncing back with a 7-0 victory over Saint Louis (Aug. 30). Freshman Berta Queralt was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week Aug. 31 after posting a game-high seven points on two goals and three assists vs. the Billikens.
HOME, SWEET HOME
Ohio State is 8-1 when playing in Columbus this season, allowing its nine opponents to score just seven goals on its home turf.
This season, the Buckeyes have blanked Saint Louis (7-0, Aug. 30), Ohio (3-0, Sept. 11), Vermont (3-0, Sept. 18), Central Michigan (1-0, Sept. 20) and Iowa (2-0, Oct. 11) at North Turf Field.
Last week, Ohio State extended its winning record vs. Louisville Oct. 14 at home with a 2-1 overtime victory and earned a 4-3 Big Ten win vs. Michigan last Saturday.
Starting Big Ten action vs. Indiana Sept. 27, the Buckeyes gave up two goals to the Hoosiers but were able to tack on the gamewinner with just seven seconds remaining for the 3-2 victory.
The squad’s lone loss at North Turf Field this season came to then-No. 12 James Madison, a 1-0 defeat, in the season-opener Aug. 29.
The Scarlet and Gray have outscored its opponents 25-7 at home with assists on 20 of the goals for 70 total points while the Buckeyes have limited JMU, IU, U of L and UM to a combined 20 points.
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
On Aug. 31, Berta Queralt was named Co-Big Ten Freshman of the Week, a weekly conference award established this season, after recording seven points on two goals and three assists in Ohio State’s 7-0 victory over Saint Louis Aug. 30.
In just her second game as a Buckeye, the native of Barcelona, Spain, had her first career multiple goal game, scoring on two of her three shots vs. the Billikens. Queralt’s three assists in a single game are the most since Jenee Doto (2000-03) and Cammie Trainer (2001-04) each had three helpers vs. Radford Sept. 7, 2003.
EARLY HONORS
Ohio State has had a student-athlete earn a Big Ten weekly honor the first week of the season four times (2000, ’06, ’08, ’09) under head coach Anne Wilkinson.
In 2008, goalkeeper Lindsay Quintiliani won the first Big Ten weekly defensive honor Sept. 1, one of four weekly accolades coveted by a Buckeye last season. In 2006, the Scarlet and Gray swept both the Big Ten offensive and defensive weekly awards with Saskia Mueller and Quintiliani receiving the honors, respectively (Aug. 28). Mariana Solorzano earned the offensive player of the week nod as a freshman in 2000 to start the trend.
CLOSING CALL
As the end of October rolls approaches so does the end of Ohio State’s regular-season. The Buckeyes celebrate Halloween with a game vs. the Northwestern Wildcats next Saturday in Evanston, Ill. Ohio State then enters postseason action with the 2009 Big Ten Tournament opening Nov. 5 and running through Nov. 8 at East Lansing, Mich.
