Sept. 12, 2016
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The No. 19 Ohio State women’s soccer team fell to No. 7 BYU, 3-0, Monday night at Bert L. & Iris S. Wolstein Field at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium. With the loss, the Buckeyes conclude non-conference play with a 6-2-0 record while the Cougars improve to 6-1-0.
“The soccer that we put out today from every aspect gave us a lot to be proud of,” Lori Walker, Ohio State head coach, said. “We played against an outstanding team and that only benefits us. Our growth is all about us positioning ourselves for November and postseason play. This game has made us a better team. We’re going to focus on recovery and get our legs back heading into Big Ten play this weekend.”
BUCKEYES ALMOST STRIKE EARLY
It didn’t take a minute for the Buckeyes to earn their first opportunity of the match. Lindsay Agnew gathered on the right wing and found Morgan Wolcott with her back to goal on the right side of the box. Wolcott turned and fired a shot toward the far post but BYU goalkeeper Hannah Clark lunged to her right to deflect the ball wide for her first of seven saves on the night.
BYU MOVES AHEAD
BYU took the 1-0 lead on a Michele Vasconcelos goal in the eighth minute. Ashley Hatch played a pass from the right wing to Paige Barker, on the top-right corner of the box, where Barker slipped a through ball to Vasconcelos for the finish from eight yards.
CORNER PROVIDES ANOTHER CHANCE
Ohio State almost found the equalizer in the 26th minute when a Nikki Walts corner found Nichelle Prince on the near left post but Clark was there to make another save on the shot from six yards to keep it a 1-0 game.
TWO MORE BUCKEYE OPPORTUNITES
In the 36th minute, Walts was blasted a free kick from 25 yards that was deflected over the crossbar and out of play by Clark. On the ensuing corner, Walts played a ball toward the far post that was volleyed back in to the center of the box by Sammy Edwards, where Wolcott was able to put a bicycle kick on frame where Clark was able to come up with another huge save as the Buckeyes trailed 1-0 after 45 minutes.
CLARK THWARTS TWO MORE CHANCES
Four minutes into the second half, Walts played a free kick from 35 yards out on the left wing that was headed down by Wolcott at the center of the box and Clark again ranged to her left to make the lunging save. A minute later, Agnew was taken down in the box and took the penalty kick but Clark ranged to her left to make the diving stop to preserve the 1-0 lead.
GOMES DOUBLES BYU LEAD
After the Buckeyes had controlled possession to start the second half BYU made it a 2-0 lead against the run of play in the 55th minute when Nadia Gomes broke free on the left wing and finished just inside the right post from 12 yards.
COUGARS ADD ANOTHER
In the 62nd minute, BYU tacked on another when Vasconcelos took advantage of a Buckeye turnover on the left wing, fed Gomes on the left side of the box and Gomes flicked it on to Hatch, who placed a right-footed shot from 10 yards inside the right post to push the lead to 3-0.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
Shots: Ohio State 13, BYU 9
Saves: BYU 7, Ohio State 2
Shots on Goal: Ohio State 7, BYU 5
Corner Kicks: Ohio State 6, BYU 6
BUCKEYE BITS
– Ohio State was held scoreless for the first time this season after scoring 15 goals in seven previous matches.
– Bryce Watts came on in the second half to make her first appearance in a Buckeye uniform.
UP NEXT
Ohio State opens Big Ten play at Wisconsin and Minnesota this weekend.
