No. 24 Buckeyes Edge Wisconsin, 1-0, in Battle of Big Ten’s Top Two Teams – Ohio State Buckeyes
10/16/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The No. 24 Ohio State women’s soccer team earned a hard-fought 1-0 win over Wisconsin, snapping the Badgers’ 930-minute shutout streak in the process, Friday evening at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium. With the win, the Buckeyes move to 11-2-1 on the season, remaining atop the Big Ten with a perfect 5-0 record. Wisconsin, sitting in second place heading into the match, drops to 6-4-4 overall, 3-1-2 in Big Ten play.
“It was a tale of two halves,” head coach Lori Walker said. “We played as well as we have all year in the first half and lost our composure in the second. Wisconsin put a lot of pressure on us and were able to spread us out but we were able to maintain the lead and pick up the win.”
In what looked to be a defensive battle before the match, both teams jumped out to quick starts. The Buckeyes’ Tiffany Cameron had a golden opportunity less than eight minutes in but, after tracking down a long ball just outside the box, had her one-on-one opportunity thwarted on a diving save by Wisconsin goalkeeper Michele Dalton.
The Badgers had a great chance of their own less than three minutes later but Rachel Middleman made the diving save on Laurie Nosbusch’s header from six yards out.
After multiple chances early on, Caitlyn Martin gave the Buckeyes a 1-0 lead in the 28th minute, beating a diving Dalton on a header far post off a cross from Cameron. The goal, the fourth of the year for Martin, snapped the Badgers’ shutout streak that spanned 10 games. It was the first goal Wisconsin allowed since a 1-1 tie at Washington Sept. 5.
“It felt great to get the win against a quality team like Wisconsin,” Martin said. “It was good to get on the board early and hold them off to earn a big win.”
After a very physical opening to the second half, Wisconsin midfielder Alev Kelter drilled a shot from 20 yards out in the 61st minute but Middleman was right there to make the save. Then, with just under nine minutes remaining, the Badgers had another chance off a set piece but the header by forward Kodee Williams sailed inches over the crossbar.
Ohio State had multiple chances by Cameron in a two-minute span but Dalton made a diving save on each shot. The second shot by Cameron rebounded off Dalton and out to Colleen Brady but her low, driving shot from just outside the 18-yard box narrowly missed the left post.
For the game, Wisconsin held a narrow 11-10 advantage in shots but Ohio State put nine on goal to just three for the Badgers. Wisconsin also held a 6-1 advantage in corner kicks. It was just the second time this year that the Buckeyes were outshot, the only other was a 16-15 deficit in a 1-0 loss against No. 19 Arizona State.
The Buckeyes continue their three-game homestand when they take on No. 15 Minnesota Sunday at noon at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium.
