Ohio State Hosts Penn State in Big Ten Home Opener – Ohio State Buckeyes
10/1/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State women’s soccer team hosts 12-time defending Big Ten regular season champion Penn State on Youth Day at 3 p.m. Sunday at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium. The game will be televised live on the Big Ten Network.
The Buckeyes defeated Michigan, 2-0, in the Big Ten opener last Sunday in Ann Arbor. Paige Maxwell scored the game-winner in the 85th minute and Kristen Niederhaus, after assisting on Maxwell’s game-winner, added an insurance tally less than three minutes later.
BUCKEYE BITS
– The Buckeyes took 40 shots in the win over Cleveland State. It is the most shots in a game for the Buckeyes going back through the 2003 season and 10 short of the program record of 50 set in a 14-0 win over Robert Morris in 1995.
– The Buckeyes have outscored their opponents 19-4 since the 2-1 season-opening loss against Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
– Ohio State has outshots its 2010 opponents 180-84 including 77-32 on goal.
– Ohio State has outshot its opponent in every game but one this season, with the lone exception being a 1-0 loss to No. 19 Arizona State.
– Fifteen Buckeyes have recorded a point in 2010. Only the 2004 (19) and 2009 (18) teams have had more players contribute offensively.
BUCKS IN THE BIG TEN
– As a team, Ohio State ranks in the top three in the Big Ten in goals per game (2.00, 3rd), assists per game (2.50, 2nd) and corner kicks (66, 2nd).
– Four Buckeyes rank in the top 10 in the conference in assists: Lauren Steuer and Tiffany Cameron (4, t-3rd) and Liz Sullivan and Courtney Jenkins (3, t-7th).
– Rachel Middleman ranks second in the conference with a 0.38 goals-against average and third with a .880 save percentage.
SCOUTING THE NITTANY LIONS
Led by fourth-year head coach Erica Walsh, the Nittany Lions are off to a 3-6-1 start this season. Junior forward Danielle Toney leads Penn State with four goals and sophomore midfielder Christine Nairn leads the Nittany Lions with nine points (3 goals, 3 assists).
The Buckeyes trail the all-time series with Penn State, 5-14-1.
BUCKEYES IN THE RANKINGS
Ohio State is ranked 24th in this week’s rankings by Soccer America. The Buckeyes are receiving votes in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) and SoccerTimes.com polls. Ohio State is ranked fourth in the NSCAA Great Lakes region rankings.
THE COACHING STAFF
Ohio State is under the direction of 14th-year head coach Lori Walker. She has guided the team to five NCAA tournament berths (2002-03-04-07-09) as well as two Big Ten tournament championships (2002 and 2004). Greg Miller is in his third season as associate head coach and 10th overall with the Buckeyes. The 2010 season marks the third season for assistant coach Glen Tourville and the first for student assistant coach Lauren Robertson.
MAXWELL EARNS POW HONOR
Junior forward Paige Maxwell was named Big Ten offensive player of the week Sept. 27 after scoring the game-winner in the 85th minute of the Buckeyes 2-0 win over Michigan Sept. 26.
MARTIN BIG TEN OFFENSIVE POW
Junior forward Caitlyn Martin was named Big Ten offensive player of the week Sept. 13 after scoring both Ohio State goals in a 2-0 win over Cleveland State Sept. 8.
MIDDLEMAN NAMED TOP FRESHMAN
Goalkeeper Rachel Middleman was named Big Ten freshman of the week Sept. 6 after 165 scoreless minutes in goal in a pair of shutout Ohio State victories over Dayton and Akron.
GRANBERG NAMED BIG TEN POW
Sophomore Lauren Granberg was named Big Ten offensive player of the week Aug. 30 after her two goal effort against West Virginia. She scored both the game-tying and game-winning goals just over a minute apart against the Mountaineers. The Edmonton, Alberta native also was named a collegesoccer360.com Primetime Performer of the Week for her efforts.
A CANADIAN INFLUENCE
The three Canadians on the Ohio State roster have played a huge role in the Buckeyes’ hot start in 2010. Tiffany Cameron (3g, 4a) and Lauren Granberg (3g) are each tied for the team lead in goals while the third Canadian, freshman Danica Wu, has played in all 10 games and started nine in the midfield.
DICKERSON ON M.A.C. HERMANN LIST
Defender Cassie Dickerson was named to the M.A.C. Hermann Trophy watch list, the Missouri Athletic Club announced.
The senior from Kalamazoo, Mich. was named a first-team All-Big Ten and All-Great Lakes Region selection in 2009 after starting 19 games at center back for the Buckeyes. A Big Ten Sportsmanship Award honoree, the three-time captain played the second-most minutes on the team, scoring a goal and adding a pair of assists on the season.
It marks the second time in program history that a Buckeye was named to the Hermann Trophy watch list after Lara Dickenmann was selected in 2007. The award is considered the highest individual honor in collegiate soccer.
2010 CAPTAINS
Cassie Dickerson was named a team captain for the third-consecutive season and is joined by defenders Lauren Beachy and Danielle Scoliere. The trio has combined for 138 career starts.
AT HOME AT JESSE OWENS
Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium has proved to be a more than advantageous home for the Buckeyes in its 11 years of existence. Consider:
– The home team is 77-32-10 all-time.
– Ohio State is 58-15-8 since 2003 and 33-10-4 since 2006.
– The Buckeyes went 9-2-0 at home in 2009.
10 AT HOME…AND ADMISSION IS FREE
The Buckeyes’ schedule includes 10 matches at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium this season with Big Ten action kicking off this Sunday against rival and Big Ten preseason favorite Penn State. 2010 marks the second consecutive season that admission to all Ohio State home soccer matches is free to all.
UP NEXT
The Buckeyes hit the road for the second time in Big Ten play to take on Iowa Oct. 8 and Northwestern Oct. 10.
