Ohio State
Wake Forest
Berta Queralt Leads Buckeyes to 4-3 OT Win With Four-Goal Performance – Ohio State Buckeyes
9/16/2011 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Sept. 16, 2011
Check back on OhioStateBuckeyes.com for a post-game video interview with Berta Queralt
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Junior captain Berta Queralt claimed her 100th career point in thrilling fashion with four goals, including the gamewinner, in a 4-3 overtime win against Wake Forest Friday afternoon at Buckeye Varsity Field. Queralt, a native of Barcelona, Spain, sealed the Buckeyes’ first home victory of the season with four minutes remaining in the first overtime on an unassisted goal to complete the day with eight points on four scores – both career highs.
“Obviously she had a tremendous game to get open on the left side and create space for herself,” head coach Anne Wilkinsonsaid. “They were excellent goals and she competes day in and day out for this team.”
Queralt, a two-time All-American, becomes the ninth Buckeye in program history to score at least 100 career points. The OSU forward now has 107 points, which is eight most on the all-time list in Ohio State history.
The Buckeyes (3-5) held a 3-2 lead with less than 10 minutes remaining in regulation when Wake Forest came charging back to the tie game, 3-3, with five minutes to go and send the game into overtime.
During the extra time period, the Demon Deacons had the offensive momentum, claiming four penalty corners on six shots.
However, it only took one solid strike from the stick of Queralt to notch the home victory. The two-time first team All-Big Ten honoree, Queralt found space on the left side and rattled a shot into the backboard of the cage for the unassisted goal at 80:40 – her third unassisted score of the day.
“Berta puts herself in position to do that a lot,” Wilkinson said. “I was just excited today that she was able to finish. I think we have one of the toughest schedules in the country and to get a win against a great team like Wake Forest today is a huge turning point for us.”
With 99 career points, the milestone goal for Queralt came in the first half when she found the back of the cage off a deflection following a penalty corner at 17:08. The play started when senior captain Jenn Sciulliblasted a shot from the top of the circle. Surrounded by Demon Deacons, Queralt was able to get solid contact from the left side and sent it pass the Wake Forest goalkeeper to put the Scarlet and Gray in front, 1-0.
Sciulli tallied her fourth defensive save of the season on a Wake Forest penalty corner with a minute remaining in the first half.
Queralt continued the OSU momentum in the second half with an unassisted goal at 38:32. The OSU forward faked a shot then fired a slap shot from the left side of the circle into the back right of the cage to push the Buckeye lead to 2-0.
Their lead was then cut in half when the Demon Deacons posted their first goal of the game at 48:38 to make it 2-1. Kari Walkley scored for Wake Forest in front of the goal with the assist by Lauren Greenwood.
Kaitlin Piosa continued to put pressure on the Buckeyes with a goal at the 56:08, tying the game 2-2. Piosa deflected in a shot from the right side of the cage following a pass by teammate Anna Kozniuk.
But the Scarlet and Gray continued to grind on both ends of the turf to take their third lead of the afternoon – this time on an exciting fast break. Queralt, who was able to beat the Wake Forest backfield, found herself one-on-one with goalkeeper Kaitlyn Ruhf and slapped a shot pass Ruhf from the right side into goal at 62:22 to claim the hat trick.
However, Wake Forest rebounded quickly just two minutes later to tie the game, 3-3, with another deflection goal by Walkley from the right side at 64:52 – this time assisted by Jess McFadyen.
Senior goalkeeper Ally Tunitisimproves to 3-5 on the season, posting six saves, while Ruhf falls to 1-5 in 2011, notching two saves.
Wake Forest held a 21-11 advantage on shots and an 11-4 lead in penalty corners. Ohio State held a 6-3 advantage on shots-on-goal.
The Buckeyes will now prepare to travel north to face Kent State at 1 p.m. Sunday at Murphy-Mellis Field.
