10/21/2018 12:16:49 PM | Women's Soccer
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COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State women’s soccer team topped No. 19 Wisconsin, 2-1, in its regular-season finale Sunday afternoon at Bert L. & Iris S. Wolstein Field at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium. With the win, the Buckeyes conclude the regular season with a 9-5-3 record while the Badgers drop to 12-3-3. The teams tied for third in the Big Ten with a 6-2-3 conference record and the Buckeyes earn the No. 3 seed in the Big Ten Tournament on the head-to-head tiebreaker and will host a quarterfinal match next Sunday.
QUOTE FROM THE COACH
“That’s an excellent Wisconsin team,” Lori Walker-Hock, Ohio State head coach, said. “I thought we did an excellent job of keeping the ball on the ground and playing our type of soccer. We were able to pull their midfield apart and I’m proud of the courage our team was able to display. With a lot of things out of our control today in terms of Big Ten Tournament seeding, I was proud that we were able to show up and take care of business.”
Sunday soccer action! Catch the top plays from @OhioStateWSOC's win over Wisconsin. pic.twitter.com/ScuwlQf6d3
— Ohio State on BTN (@OhioStateOnBTN) October 21, 2018
MATCH SUMMARY
– For the second-consecutive match, Ohio State took the early lead, this time on a Marissa Birzon finish in the ninth minute. Eleanor Gabriel slotted a perfect through ball to Birzon, who took one touch around Wisconsin goalkeeper Jordyn Bloomer and finished from six yards on the right side of the box for the 1-0 lead.
That's Birzon's third goal of the year for the Buckeyes!#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/Xnt3y1MRNV
— Ohio State WSOC (@OhioStateWSOC) October 21, 2018
– In the 18th minute, Cameron Murtha was able to get her head on a Claire Shea corner kick but Ohio State defender Izzy Rodriguez was there to head the ball off the line before it was cleared away.
– However, Wisconsin knotted the score a minute later. A long ball from Payton Wesley was flicked on by Victoria Pickett to Dani Rhodes, who beat a Buckeye defender and hit a shot off the underside of the crossbar to even the match at 1-1.
– Ohio State then regained the lead on an own goal in the 29th minute. Sarah Roberts played a dangerous low cross from the right wing across the box, where it took a deflection off a Wisconsin defender and in for an own goal.
29' Roberts plays a cross through the box that's deflected by a Wisconsin defender and in for an own goal! 2-1 Buckeyes!#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/Xl4y4WhcVJ
— Ohio State WSOC (@OhioStateWSOC) October 21, 2018
– The Buckeye defense then took over in the second half, with Ohio State goalkeeper Devon Kerr thwarting a pair of the Badgers’ best opportunities. In the 66th minute, a dangerous Wisconsin free kick from the left wing was smothered at the six-yard box by the Buckeye senior. Then in the 78th minute, Wisconsin’s Lauren Rice hit a left-footed strike from 20 yards that was deflected just over the crossbar by Kerr as the Buckeyes held on for the victory.
78' Rice with a left-footed strike from the top of the box but Kerr's there to deflect it over the crossbar!#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/wK8NVPkspN
— Ohio State WSOC (@OhioStateWSOC) October 21, 2018
MATCH NOTES
– Gabriel’s assist was her third of the season to tie Marike Mousset for the team lead.
– Ohio State improved to 9-0-0 on the year when scoring first and 34-1-1 when scoring the opening goal
since the start of the 2016 season.
– The Buckeyes improved to 42-1-2 when scoring at least two goals in a match since the start of 2014. Ohio State is 5-0-0 in such contests this season.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
Shots: Wisconsin 13, Ohio State 6
Saves: Ohio State 4, Wisconsin 2
Shots on Goal: Wisconsin 5, Ohio State 4
Corner Kicks: Wisconsin 8, Ohio State 2
Match: No. 19 Wisconsin at Ohio State
Date: Oct. 21, 2018
Venue: Bert L. & Iris S. Wolstein Field at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium – Columbus, Ohio
Kickoff: 2 p.m. ET
Attendance: 631
Weather: Sunny and 46 degrees
Scoring Summary 1 2 F
OSU 2 0 2
WIS 1 0 1
