Oct. 8, 2017
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COLUMBUS, Ohio – Sammy Edwards scored the game-winner in the 81st minute as the No. 15 Ohio State women’s soccer team topped Michigan, 1-0, for its fifth-consecutive win Sunday afternoon at Bert L. & Iris S. Wolstein Field at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium. With the win, the Buckeyes improve to 11-2-1 overall, 6-1-0 in the Big Ten, while the Wolverines fall to 5-4-6, 2-3-3 in conference play.
After controlling possession and earning opportunities throughout the match, the Buckeyes got on the board when Eleanor Gabriel beat a Michigan defender to the end line on the right wing and played a cross to Edwards, who finished from six yards for her team-high seventh goal of the season.
“We were creating opportunities in the first half but I didn’t think they were dangerous opportunities,” Lori Walker-Hock, Ohio State head coach, said. “We had great possession and moved the ball extremely well but weren’t executing that final piece. I got on Sammy a little bit to start playing hard and be more physically engaging. We need our three forwards to be connecting with each other. Eleanor played a great ball and it was a fantastic finish by Sammy.”
EDWARDS WITH THE BEST CHANCE OF THE FIRST HALF
In the 33rd minute, a loose ball in the box off a Nikki Walts corner fell to the foot of Edwards but her shot from 12 yards at the center of the box sailed high.
FOUG’S SHOT ON COUNTER NARROWLY MISSES
In the 62nd minute, an Ohio State turnover was possessed by Reilly Martin before a cross to Katie Foug on the left side of the box but her left-footed strike from 12 yards flew over the crossbar.
EDWARDS CREATING CHANCES IN THE SECOND HALF
The Ohio State senior continued to earn chances in the second 45 minutes before the late game-winner. In the 69th minute, Edwards possessed on the top left side of the box, cut it back toward center and ripped a shot toward the near post but Michigan goalkeeper Sarah Jackson was there to make the lunging stop. Less than a minute later, Edwards laid a pass off to Arden Holden on the left wing but her shot from 10 yards on the left side of the box sailed high and wide left.
Then, in the 74th minute, Gabriel made a run to the end line on the right wing and played a cross to Edwards at the six-yard box but her shot caromed off the left post and Haley Walker-Robinson was unable to follow up with the rebound as the match remained scoreless.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
Shots: Ohio State 17, Michigan 4
Saves: Michigan 6, Ohio State 1
Shots on Goal: Ohio State 7, Michigan 1
Corner Kicks: Ohio State 3, Michigan 0
BUCKEYE BITS
– Ohio State is 11-0-0 on the year when scoring first after going 10-0-1 when scoring first a year ago.
– Ohio State goalkeeper Devon Kerr recorded her fifth-consecutive shutout, eighth of the season and 10th of her career against the Spartans. The clean sheet ties her with Amber Barnes for fourth on the Buckeyes’ single-season shutout list.
– Edwards’ goal was the 24th of her career, moving her into a tie for 10th on the Ohio State career list with Jodie Stranges. Edwards also moved into sole possession of 12th on the Ohio State career points list with 57.
– The win was the 250th in Walker-Hock’s career. All but 13 of those victories have come in her 21 seasons at Ohio State.
UP NEXT
Ohio State travels to Maryland for a 7 p.m. match Thursday before a 1 p.m. contest at Rutgers Sunday.
Match: Michigan at No. 15 Ohio State
Date: Oct. 8, 2017
Venue: Jesse Owens Memorial State – Columbus, Ohio
Kickoff: 12 p.m. ET
Attendance: 1,093
Weather: Cloudy and 68 degrees
| Scoring Summary | 1 | 2 | F |
| MICH | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| OSU | 0 | 1 | 1 |
