Aug. 19, 2016
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State women’s soccer team opened its 2016 season with a 3-0 win over Kent State Friday night at Bert L. & Iris S. Wolstein Field at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium.
“It was a fantastic atmosphere tonight,” Lori Walker, Ohio State head coach, said. “I think the team was really anxious to play and the new players were jumping around pregame and you could tell were really excited to be Buckeyes. We moved the ball well, set the tempo and got on the board early to put the game away in the first half.”
The Buckeyes wasted little time getting on the board, taking the lead in the eighth minute when Lindsay Agnew tracked down a long ball from Kylie Knight, beat a defender and finished past Kent State goalkeeper Ashleah McDonald for the 1-0 advantage.
Freshman Meghan Kammerdeiner then doubled the Buckeye lead in the 19th minute, controlling a failed clearance in the center of the box and finishing from 10 yards to make it 2-0.
Dominique DiNardo earned Kent State’s best chance of the first half in the 31st minute when she fired a shot from the top of the box that sailed right into the arms of Ohio State goalkeeper Jillian McVicker.
Nya Cason then tallied her first-career goal in the 32nd minute, controlling at the top of the box, dodging a defender and finishing inside the left post to extend the Buckeye lead to 3-0 heading in to the half.
For the first half, each team had three shots with the Buckeyes converting each one. Kent State held a 4-0 lead in shots on goal.
Ohio State had another chance in the 55th minute when Emma Firenze threaded a through ball down the middle toward Kammerdeiner but the strike from 12 yards from the freshman sailed high.
Kent State then had an opportunity three minutes later when Jenna Hellstrom broke free on the right wing, cut back and curled a left-footed strike toward the far post but McVicker dove far to her right to punch the shot wide.
In the 81st minute, Eleanor Gabriel had a chance of her own, blasting a shot from 30 yards that headed toward the top-left corner but McDonald again was able to make the save as the match concluded 3-0 in the Buckeyes’ favor.
For the game, Ohio State held a 13-10 lead in shots, including 9-6 on frame. Each team tallied five corners. McVicker made five saves in goal for the Buckeyes.
Ohio State hosts Wright State at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Bert L. & Iris S. Wolstein Field at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium.
